STUMPS - DAY 1

India 231-7 (84 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Part-timer Elgar comes into the attack as South Africa decide not to take the second new ball straightaway.

Rahane takes a single from the second ball before Ashwin sweeps Elgar fine on the leg side for a four.

No signs of the new ball as South Africa decide to operate with their spinners, Elgar and Piedt.

The light is not getting any good either and it won't be long before the umpires take a call on the light.

Ashwin and Rahane, it seems, are playing for stumps as both are just looking to defend everything or avoid any risks.

Rahane turns Piedt on the leg side for a single to take his score to 89 and close in on the first century of the series.

India are 231 for seven in 84 overs as the umpires take off the bails and call off play early because of bad light.

A good final session for the Indians, who scored 92 runs in 30.1 overs for the loss of just one wicket.

Rahane was instrumental in keeping India afloat as he stroked a fluent 89 from 155 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes. At the other end, Ashwin is unbeaten on six from 29 balls, with the duo involved in an unbroken stand of 33 runs.

Off-spinner Piedt was the star of the show for the South Africans as he claimed four for 101 as he sent down a massive 34 overs, accounting for more than one-third of South Africa's overs in the day.

Abbott bowled with a great heart on a wicket not giving a lot of help to the fast bowlers, taking three for 23 in 17 overs.

India 223-7 (80 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Rahane has looked in superb touch as he plays another good drive off Abbott square on the off-side for two runs.

Tahir, who conceded 18 runs in his last three overs, is taken off and makes way for Piedt.

A huge appeal for caught off bat-pad against Ashwin off Piedt but umpire Dharmasena is not interested. Was there some glove on it?

Morkel comes on from the other end, replacing Abbott, who has taken three for 23 in 17 overs.

Rahane sweeps Piedt, hitting Bavuma at short leg who seems to have injured his hand as the physio comes out to attend. The next ball is short as Rahane pulls it through square leg for a boundary.

Piedt gets Rahane (78) to edge it straight to Amla at first slip, who puts down the straightforward opportunity.

In Piedt's next over, Rahane comes down the track and lofts him over midwicket for a six to move into the 80s.

He turns the last ball to fine leg for a single as India reach 223 for seven in 80 overs with Rahane on 85 and Ashwin on two.

India 209-7 (74 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Tahir is guilty of giving away free runs yet again. The first ball is short as Rahane pulls it through midwicket for a four before two balls later he is gifted a full toss which he hits over mid-on for the same result as India go past the 200-run mark, in the 74th over.

The last ball is short and wide as Ravichandran Ashwin steers it behind point for two runs which gets him off the mark.

India 198-7 (73 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Jadeja survives a close shout for LBW off Piedt before he takes a single two balls later followed by a single to Rahane. The left-hander looked to play it across the line on the leg side but was beaten and was struck on the backfoot. Was that slipping down the leg side? Umpire Oxenford certainly indicated so.

The last ball is short and Rahane goes back and cuts it through point for two runs.

Tahir bowls a tidy over, sending down a maiden over to Rahane, who is content to defend it watchfully.

A break for Piedt as pacer Abbott comes back into the attack. He makes the breakthrough yet again with the wicket of Jadeja for 24. The left-hander came down the track but ended up hitting the fast bowler uppishly as Elgar came up with a superb catch at short midwicket.

Jadeja and Rahane put the Indian innings back on track with a good partnership of 59 runs for the seventh wicket.

Superb bowling from Abbott, who has taken three for 21 in 16 overs.

India 194-6 (70 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Interestingly, Duminy continues, as he comes on to bowl his fourth over while Tahir continues to be sidelined.

The leg-spinner has bowled just four overs in two spells, while off-spinner Piedt has sent down 27 overs, taking four wickets in the process.

Amla did the same mistake in Nagpur in India's second innings, delaying the introduction of Tahir till around the 25th over after which he came and bagged five wickets.

Jadeja and Rahane content to milk the spinners around the ground to keep the scoreboard ticking. Rahane nearly edges the straight delivery from Duminy as he once again plays down the inside line.

The last ball is short as Rahane punches it through the covers where the mighty Morkel sprints across and gets down in time to save a certain boundary and keep it down to two.

Piedt errs with his line as he bowls a wide half-volley which Rahane crashes uppishly through the covers for a four.

Tahir finally gets a bowl as Duminy is taken off after a four over spell. He starts with the googly which is short as Jadeja hits it through the off-side for two runs. The fifth ball is again short and wide as Jadeja crashes it through the covers for a four to raise the 50-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Rahane's fifty (61) and his good partnership with Jadeja (21) which has fetched more than 50 runs now has helped India reach 174 for six in 70 overs.

India 173-6 (65 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Another off-spinner comes into the attack as part-timer J P Duminy is called in for a bowl. He starts off from round the wicket and bowls one wide down the leg side spinning away beating even keeper Vilas for four byes. The next ball stays a bit low but Rahane is able to adjust as he goes on the backfoot and turns it square for a single, while Jadeja defends the rest of the over.

Jadeja hits another cracking straight drive, this time off Duminy as it races down the ground for a four.

Rahane decides to chance his arm as he slog sweeps Piedt over midwicket for a six. Two balls later, he pulls it square for a boundary to complete his fifty, from 90 balls.

This is the first time that Rahane has crossed the 50-run mark in Test matches in India and also his first fifty after six successive failures.

India 154-6 (61 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Piedt, from round the wicket, beats Rahane with one that goes straight but fortunately for the right-hander the ball pitched well outside the leg stump. There is a huge appeal for LBW but good call from umpire Bruce Oxerford. Two balls later, he plays a risky sweep shot which goes on the bounce to fine leg for a single.

Rahane getting his form back as he merely pushes a full delivery from Morkel straight back past the bowler through mid-on for a four that takes him into the 40s and brings up India's 150, in the 60th over.

Jadeja gets his first boundary as he slaps a full delivery from Piedt down the ground, beating the fielder at mid-on.

India 145-6 (57 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Ravindra Jadeja is the new batsman as he defends the last ball of the unfinished over, from Abbott, which is a wicket-maiden for the tall pacer.

Off-spinner Piedt continues as South Africa resume the session with their two best bowlers.

Rahane steers the third ball towards point for a single and Jadeja also picks a single from the last ball to get off the mark and also keep the strike.

Morkel follows it up with a maiden over to Jadeja before four runs come from Piedt's next over. Rahane got an inside edge off the fifth delivery but it went through the vacant leg slip region for a couple.

TEA - DAY 1

India 139-6 (53.5 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

South Africa continue their wicket ways as Abbott this time bowls Saha for 1 to reduce India to 139 for six, in the 54th over. The right-hander looked to drive through the off-side but was beaten comprehensively and inside edged it back on to his stumps.

That wicket also brings to an end the post-lunch session, which was dominated by the visitors as they claimed five wickets for 79 runs in 27.5 overs.

A spectacular collapse by the Indians as the wicket of captain Kohli in unusual circumstances proved to be the turning point as they slipped from 136 for three at one stage to 139 for six at the tea break, losing three wickets for three runs in the space of 42 deliveries.

Piedt caused the maximum damage, claiming four for 56 in 20 overs, while Abbott took two for 21 in 14.5 overs.

Rahane, who is unbeaten on 31 from 62 balls, will hold the key for India in the post-tea session and it remains to be seen if he can guide India past the 200-run mark in the company of the lower order.

India 139-5 (51 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Following that wicket, Abbott comes into the attack in place of Elgar. He is unlucky not to get the wicket of Rohit Sharma, who is put down at first slip by Amla.

Rohit is lucky to have a catch dropped even before he had opened his account and even manage to sneak after Amla grassed the catch.

But Rohit fails to make most of the reprieve as he holes out to long-on as he attempts to hit Piedt down the ground.

A poor shot under the circumstances by Rohit, attempting to hit down the ground despite knowing there is a fielder in place at long-on.

India slip to 138 for five in the 51st over with Piedt taking four of the five top order wickets to fall. The hosts have lost four wickets for 78 runs in 24.1 overs in the post-lunch session to hand South Africa the initiative.

Wriddhiman Saha is beaten by one which goes straight before he takes a single off the next delivery to get off the mark.

India 136-4 (47 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Piedt makes the crucial breakthrough with the key wicket of Kohli, who hits a sweep but hits the short leg fielder and the deflection is taken by wicketkeeper Vilas, lunging forward full length.

Kohli is unfortunate to be dismissed in such a manner as he walks back a fluent innings of 44 from 62 balls, when he looked set to score a lot more. He provided some momentum to the Indian innings, put on 70 runs in 17 overs at a scoring rate of more than four per over in the post-lunch session.

A lucky break for the South Africans as India are reduced to 136 for four in 47 overs.

Superb bowling from Piedt, who has taken three for 55 in 17 overs.

The short leg fielder Bavuma, who was hit on the thighs by that Kohli sweep, winces in pain but that blow was crucial in getting the South Africans a big wicket.

India 126-3 (45 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

It's spin from both ends but Tahir is not a part of it as Piedt and Elgar are called into the attack.

Piedt drops short as Rahane cuts it behind point for a boundary. In the next over, he pulls a short ball from Elgar through midwicket but gets just two runs followed by a single to fine leg.

Another short ball pull from Elgar is pulled by Kohli but there is a fielder in place at deep midwicket and concedes just a single.

Piedt errs with his length yet again. This time an overpitched delivery is driven in some style through the covers by Kohli for a four.

India look comfortable on 126 for three in 45 overs with Rahane on 27 and Kohli on 37.

India 109-3 (40 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

This is a bit surprising as Tahir comes in place of Piedt, who was in the midst of a good spell and had already picked up two wickets on either side of the lunch interval.

SA captain Amla keen to keep the pacer-spinner combo going, resisting the temptation to employ spinners from both ends despite there being some turn on offer.

Rahane needs a big innings, he has not played a substantial innings in the series so far. Tahir helps Rahane's cause, bowling him a full toss which the right-hander flicks over midwicket for a four.

Tahir's tendency to bowl so many loose deliveries means that SA have to employ the inside-out field for him resulting in easy singles for the Indians.

A four for Rahane followed by four singles in Tahir's fourth over as India go past the 100-run mark, in the 39th over.

Morkel drops short as Kohli pulls it through midwicket for a four but is beaten off the very ball, which moves away and draws the right-hander into having a poke.

India reach 109 for three in 40 overs, having recovered quite well after the two quick strikes after the lunch break.

Kohli and Rahane have been positive, putting on 43 runs from 10 overs during their fourth-wicket stand.

Kohli has looked good to hit 29 from 38 balls, while Rahane has made 18 from 24 balls.

India 92-3 (35 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Two new batsmen out in the middle for India, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom have not had a good run in the series so far.

Rahane gets off the mark with two runs through the covers as he drives a slightly delivery from Piedt.

Abbott maintaining a good channel just outside the off-stump to Kohli, who waits for the right opportunity to get going. A short wide delivery is steered behind square on the leg side for a four by the Indian captain.

Piedt drifts on Rahane's pads who flicks it fine for two runs. The off-spinner drops short as Rahane goes back and plays a forceful shot but is unable to find the gap in the covers.

The next ball is again short but this time Rahane punches it confidently through the off-side for his first boundary.

Morkel replaces Abbott, who bowled another good spell after the lunch break, but surprisingly he got a mini three-over spell.

Morkel slips one down the leg side which Kohli nudges fine for a four, he has raced to 13 from 12 balls with the help of two fours. The tall pacer tries a bouncer on the body but slips it down the leg side which Kohli ducks under easily.

Morkel gets Kohli to edge one as he extracts some extra bounce but it goes wide of the second slip fielder for the second boundary of the over.

Rahane waiting on the backfoot as he turns Piedt on the leg side for a single. Three balls later Kohli punches a short ball between square leg and midwicket for a boundary. He is looking in superb touch at the moment, having raced to 21 from 20 balls, with the help of four boundaries.

India 66-3 (30 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Kohli plays a nice flick off Abbott, who overpitches on the pads, through square leg for three runs. Pujara has to really stretch on the last run to make his ground.

Abbott is finally rewarded with a wicket he so much deserves. He breaks through Pujara's defences with the incoming delivery, a slight inside edge on its way to the stumps. He came forward to defend but got an inside edge which deflected off the back pad onto the stumps.

Pujara walks back for 14 to leave India in a spot of bother at 66 for three in 30 overs, losing two wickets in eight deliveries.

That is the 13th time Pujara has been bowled in Test cricket in 50 innings.

India 63-2 (29 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Piedt, who impressed in the morning session, will open the bowling in the post-lunch session. He beats Dhawan with one which turns past the face of the bat as the left-hander looks to defend before a single from the last ball helps him retain strike.

In his next over, Piedt strikes with the wicket of Dhawan, who is trapped leg before wicket for 33. He set up the batsman quite nicely as the previous delivery spun past the edge of the bat while the next one came in with after pitching.

Dhawan looked to defend but was struck on the pads first in line with the stumps to be dismissed leg before wicket. And Dhawan throws away another start, to walk back for 33 after staying at the crease for 85 deliveries for more than two hours.

Captain Virat Kohli, playing in front of his home fans, gets off the mark with a single on the leg side.

LUNCH - DAY 1

India 60-1 (26 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Morkel bowling some good bouncers directed at the batsmen's body as Dhawan does well to avoid it. The next ball is full as Dhawan flicks a full delivery on the leg side for two runs followed by a single on the off-side.

Piedt bowling a good line to Pujara, who can only defend before he is beaten by one but the edge goes past Amla at first slip for a four.

Spin from both ends now as leg-spinner Imran Tahir comes into the attack. Dhawan picks a single from the second ball, before Pujara cuts a short ball which is half-stopped by the fielder at point to give away just one.

Pujara quick to come down the track to Piedt and picks him for a single on the leg side courtesy of a misfield which also brings up India's 50, in the 25th over.

Left-hander Dhawan steers the last ball, which is a bit wide, past the slip fielder for a boundary.

Tahir gifts Pujara a full toss which he sweeps over midwicket for a six in which turns out to be the final over of the session.

At lunch on Day 1, India reach 60 for one in 26 overs, recovering well after the early dismissal of Vijay for 12.

Dhawan played an uncharacteristic defensive innings, scoring 31 not out from 71 balls in which he left alone a lot of deliveries from the fast bowlers especially in the first hour. Pujara looked confident right from the start as he made 14 from 29 balls.

Both Morkel and Abbott bowled well in their eight over spells in the morning, while Piedt impressed and was rewarded with the wicket of Vijay.

It was an interesting first session and no team managed to grab the initiative as India did well to bounce back after Vijay's wicket, while South Africa's bowlers did a good job throughout after losing the toss.

India 39-1 (20 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Morkel comes back, for his second spell, replacing Abbott, who bowled an excellent first spell of eight overs for 11 runs and was very unlucky to miss out the wicket of Vijay by the slightest of margins.

The third ball is full and on the pads which Dhawan flicks through midwicket for two runs. Two balls later, Morkel bowls it full and wide as Dhawan sends it crashing through the covers for his third four.

Piedt has settled down into a good rhythm and India's batsmen have to be very watchful against him.

Morkel bowls a cracking bouncer to Pujara, who takes his eyes off as he tries to duck but is stuck on the gloves which falls safely on the off-side. The next ball is again short but this time Pujara comfortably ducks under it.

After 20 overs, India reach 39 for one, with Dhawan on 23 from 51 balls and Pujara on two.

India 32-1 (17 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Vijay is hit on the stomach by a quick short delivery from Abbott which jags in sharply. He is looking really shaky today as he inside edges the fifth delivery on the leg side for one.

Piedt ends Vijay's torture as he gets him caught at first slip for 12. The right-hander was beaten by one which went straight as he reached out to drive but only got an edge which was pouched by Amla at first slip.

Vijay never really looked comfortable out in the middle and despite getting a life on 10, he failed to make most of it.

Cheteshwar Pujara gets off the mark with a single as he comes down the track and drives it along the ground to long-on and Dhawan takes one from the last ball.

India 26-0 (14 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

South Africa introduce spin as off-spinner Dane Piedt comes into the attack, to bowl the 11th over.

He makes a tidy start, bowling a maiden over to Vijay, who is happy to just play it out cautiously.

But it is Abbott, who makes the first breakthrough with the wicket of Vijay, who is caught in the slips for for 10. Oh hold on! The umpires want to get it checked..

The catch is referred to the third umpire with the on-field umpire having some doubt about where Abbott's front feet landed.

After a few replays, the benefit of doubt goes in the favour of the batsman as Vijay survives a close call.

Former Karnataka cricketer C K Nandan, who makes his debut as the third umpire, has made a good call with no clear cut evidence of any part of the feet behind the line.

Piedt bowls a low full which Dhawan whips through midwicket for the first boundary of the Indian innings, in the 13th over.

In the next over, Dhawan leans forward and drives a half-volley from Abbott through the covers for a four. He is looking much more assured than Vijay after putting in the hard work in the first hour, he seems to be looking so much more comfortable.

India 14-0 (10 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Dhawan finally gets off the mark with a single to fine leg, from the 18th ball he faced, flicking a full delivery from Morkel on the leg side.

Morkel looking to pitch up now as Vijay turns it square on the leg side for two runs as the tall South African pacer misses his line and pitches it a bit too straight.

Vijay is again beaten by one which keeps a bit low before he picks one to mid-off.

Dhawan has left most of the deliveries alone, clearly showing his intent to stay at the wicket as much as possible without taking any risks.

However, he does lose his focus temporarily as he pulls a short ball from Abbott but hits on the gloves which pops on the leg side but fall safely away from the keeper, for two runs.

But he is back to leaving the ball after that minor blip as India reach 14 for no loss in 10 overs with Vijay on 10 from 34 balls and Dhawan on four from 26 balls.

India 5-0 (5 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Morkel drops short as Vijay plays a good shot but can't beat the fielder at point. He punches the next ball, a bit fuller, through the covers for two runs to get India off the mark.

Morkel keeping it a bit short and aiming at Vijay's body, who does well to keep one down, aimed at his chest. It is all short deliveries for the rest of the over and Vijay is able to easily see them away.

Dhawan is content to play himself in as he plays out another maiden over from Abbott, who keeps slanting it across the left-hander.

Vijay flicks Morkel through midwicket for three runs as the fielder stops it just inside the ropes.

Dhawan, it seems, is looking to leave as much as possible and see off the fast bowlers.

India are five for no loss after five overs with Vijay having scored all the runs, while Dhawan is yet to get off the mark from 17 deliveries.

India 0-0 (2 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Local boy Shikhar Dhawan will look to bounce back to form at his home ground, while at the other end Murali Vijay would be keen to continue his good form.

Morne Morkel, once again, has to shoulder the burden of South Africa's bowling attack in the absence of Dale Steyn, who misses out because of injury.

The first ball is full and moves away a tad, beating Vijay, who half-heartedly pokes at it before he defends the next ball on the leg side.

The fifth ball stays a bit low as Vijay is again beaten outside the off-stump before he blocks the last ball to end a good first over.

Kyle Abott to bowl the second over. The first ball is wide as it goes across Dhawan, who is happy to let it go through and he does the same off the next ball.

Dhawan inside edges one looking to defend before he plays out the rest of the over for the second maiden over on the trot.

India captain Virat Kohli has won the toss for the fourth time in the series and has no hesitation in electing to bat in the inconsequential fourth match.

Interestingly, India have made one change with pacer Umesh Yadav coming in for leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

Meanwhile, South Africa have made three changes to their line-up. Temba Bavuma will open the innings in place of Stiaan van Zyl, while pacer Kyle Abbott takes the place of Kagiso Rabada. Off-spinner Dani Piedt replaces Simon Harmer in the spin department for Proteas.

India have already sealed the four-match series 2-0 courtesy of their victories in Mohali and Nagpur while the second match in Bangalore was washed out.

Local boy Virender Sehwag, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, is felicitated by the DDCA at the Feroz Shah Kotla for his outstanding service to Indian cricket.

Welcome to the coverage of the fourth and final Test between India and South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla, in Delhi, on Thursday.

The 22-yard strip at the Feroz Shah Kotla will be the cynosure of all eyes as a buoyant India seeks their biggest series triumph against South Africa when they square off in the final Test.

Having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead, India are looking for another facile victory against the Proteas, which will propel them to No 2 in the ICC Test rankings.

However, with the pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association's ground in Jamtha, Nagpur, incurring the wrath of ICC match referee Jeff Crowe, who rated it sub-standard, the focus in the upcoming Test will be firmly on the playing strip.

Team Director Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli may have shrugged off queries about the pitches prepared for the preceding Tests in Nagpur, Bangalore and Mohali, but they will have to live with it for the next five days.

While the Feroz Shah Kotla track is not expected to be a rank-turner, the primary character of the pitch is of low and slow nature, which is unlikely to change.

India's spin troika have so far accounted for 47 of the 50 South African wickets in the five completed innings across three Tests.

Of them, Ravichandran Ashwin is the leader of the pack with 24 victims to his credit, while Ravindra Jadeja made an impressive comeback with 16 scalps.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra has only seven wickets to his name, but his victims were critical in the context of the twin victories.

If India's bowlers have won them the series, the form of the batsmen have been a major cause for concern.

Murali Vijay, with 195 runs, is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in terms of runs scored as well as quality of batsmanship.

With 160 runs, Cheteshwar Pujara comes a close second. Unbelievable it may sound but only two batsmen Vijay and Pujara - have scored half-centuries in the four completed innings so far. Even more baffling is that none of the other top-order batsmen were able to accumulate 100 runs in the series.