South Africa inched ever closer to a whitewash of India after ending day four of the second Test with a 521-run lead, teeing up a hunt for eight wickets on Wednesday.

Having bowled their struggling hosts out for 201 on day three, the Proteas opted against the follow-on and reached 26-0 by Tuesday, when Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton resumed at the crease.  

Rickelton (35) was almost run out by Washington Sundar early on, but his reprieve did not even last three overs as he fell tamely to Ravindra Jadeja, and India might have felt they had a snippet of hope when the same bowler accounted for Markram (29).

Visiting captain Temba Bavuma (3) was caught by Nitish Kumar Reddy off Washington's bowling soon afterwards, but Tristan Stubbs continued to plug away.

Having been 77-3, South Africa reached 178 before losing their next wicket, with Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi combining for 101 before the latter was trapped lbw by Jadeja, one run short of his 50.

Wiaan Mulder (35 not out) came in to support Stubbs, who plundered 94 off 180 balls before becoming Jadeja's fourth victim of the day, prompting Bavuma to declare at 260-5.

Chasing a mammoth target of 549, India were surely assured of a series defeat and batting out the remainder of the match for a draw looked to be their best hope. 

But they could not get to stumps without loss as Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer – two of the star performers in the series thus far – struck once apiece, the former removing Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) and the latter accounting for KL Rahul (6).

Nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (4 not out) survived a tricky finish alongside Sai Sudharsen (2 not out), with the latter almost going out to Harmer, but India still face a gargantuan task if they are to avoid a second home whitewash in 12 months.

Stumps on Day 4!

A powerful finish as #TheProteas Men strike twice in the final passage of play. 

India ends on 27/2 after 15.5 overs, requiring a further 522 runs to win.  pic.twitter.com/lPbaZk2SOT

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 25, 2025

Data Debrief: Proteas build unprecedented lead

Another strong showing with the bat saw South Africa build a staggering 548-run lead by the time Bavuma declared, making history for a visiting team in India.

The previous biggest second-innings lead by a visiting team over India was built by Australia in 2004, as they pulled 542 clear in a comprehensive victory in Nagpur.

Stubbs' knock of 94 – his third-best score in Tests – helped the Proteas turn the screw further, and even Jadeja's figures of 4-62 could not slow the tourists down. 

India are now staring at a second home whitewash in a year after losing 3-0 to New Zealand last November, having previously gone 24 years without being swept on their own turf.