England was the last team that had enforced the follow-on on the Proteas in July 2008 at Lord’s – a match which South Africa were able to draw after fighting hundreds from Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla.

Virat Kohli, who is now playing his 50th Test as India skipper, has had 14 opportunities to enforce the follow-on in his captaincy career. Out of these, he has now enforced it 7 times (including the ongoing Pune Test) while choosing not to do so at other times. India won 4 Tests and drew 2 (both due to rain) whenever Kohli enforced the follow on, while went on to win all 7 Tests when he didn’t even after having the option to do so.

Having finished the 3rd day at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune with a hefty lead of 326 runs, Virat Kohli decided to ask South Africa to bat again on a deteriorating 4th day pitch – a decision which instantly reaped rewards as Umesha Yadav and Ishant Sharma removed Theunis de Bruyn (8) and Aiden Markram (0) early. A partnership of 49 runs between Dean Elgar (48) and Faf du Plessis (5) eased some nerves for South Africa but R Ashwin removed both the batsmen in a space of 6 deliveries to leave the tourists reeling at 74/4 when lunch was taken.

Elgar’s dismissal marked the 6th time that Ashwin has now got him out in Tests – the most by any bowler against the opener. With his 2 wickets, Ashwin has now also moved to number 23 on the list of all-time highest wicket-takers in Tests with 356 scalps to his name. He just crossed Australian legend Dennis Lillee and Sri Lanka veteran Chaminda Vaas who had 355 wickets each.

With 6 more South Africa wickets remaining, India are chasing a historic 11th consecutive Test series win at home. Quinton de Kock (1*) and Temba Bavuma (2*) were at the crease for South Africa at the time of lunch on Day 4.