The touring side reached 75-1 in their second innings at the close, a lead of 205, with Dean Elgar (38 not out) and Hashim Amla (23 not out) bringing some order to the final hour and ensuring their team are well-placed to force the victory that would level the four-match series at 1-1.
De Kock, who made 52 at Mohali, and Reeza Hendricks scored 76 for the opening stand to stub out India's hopes of early wickets and any chance of a fight.
The new COVID-19 variant, which threatens to wreak havoc in South Africa, has led to considerable concerns about India's tour of the Rainbow Nation next month and there could be changes in the quarantine rules for players in the coming days.
Faf Du Plessis' injury prompted selectors to fast-track the 23 year old to the hot seat.
'I am sure there is enough time for us to prepare and guys are looking forward to this series. This is the best opportunity for us to win our first series in South Africa. So all of us are looking forward to it.'
The 30-year-old Holland played two Tests in Sri Lanka in 2016 but has not appeared for his country in any format since.
Opener Aiden Markram made a return to form as he scored 78 to help South Africa into a strong position on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Thursday.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will miss the first Test against England at Lords starting on Thursday due to family reasons, the cricket board confirmed.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith plans to put extra pressure on Australia's newcomers in the second Test starting on Friday after his side's comprehensive defeat in the first Test.
'We are fully focused on this series. Every series is important. Individually for these players, there's a lot at stake.'
South Africa start the first of two Tests in Pakistan on Jan. 26 as they return there for the first time since 2007.
England will rest Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood for the three-match one-day international series against South Africa starting in Cape Town on February 4. Worcestershire seamer Pat Brown, Somerset batsman Tom Banton and the Lancashire pair of Matthew Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood received their maiden call-ups.
Philander's partnership with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel has earned the trio the label as the most-balanced and penetrating attack in world cricket.
As India chase history at home in Navi Mumbai, while Laura Wolvaardt's South Africa will look to script their own fairytale, by finally breaking their run of heartbreaks at ICC events.
Bavuma will captain the team to the 2021 and 2022 Twenty20 World Cups, as well as the 50-over World Cup in 2023. Elgar has been handed the reins for the next cycle of the ICC Test Championship that will run up until mid-2023.
Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi is not at all surprised with the current team's surrender in South Africa as he believes Virat Kohli's men went into the series without serious preparation and 'wasted time' playing against Sri Lanka.
One possible change could be the promotion of Lance Klusener up the order as a pinch-hitter in the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Vernon Philander took two wickets in as many balls to leave Pakistan on 17 for two wickets at the end of the first day of the third Test after they had rallied earlier on Friday and bowled hosts South Africa out for 262.
South Africa 'A' fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, on a comeback trail after injury, bowled Gill, who made a classy 90 in the first innings to leave India 'A' at 10 for one.
The lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill remains a talking point.
'It (the pitch) wasn't free-flowing. You felt comfortable, but the scoreboard wasn't going anywhere.'
Faf du Plessis was appointed South Africa's One Day International captain on Monday in place of AB de Villiers, giving him the top job in all three formats of the game.
Rohit scored 212 and Ajinkya Rahane contributed 115 as India declared their first innings at 497 for 9. South Africa are 9 for 2 at close of play.
Two candidates appear to have the strongest claims - AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis - both already captains of the national side in the shorter formats of the game.
Spinner Robin Peterson took five wickets to lead South Africa to a crushing victory by an innings and 205 runs in the second Test against Bangladesh on Monday. The touring side bowled out their hosts for 119 on the fourth day to complete a 2-0 series win. South Africa captain Graeme Smith and fast bowler Dale Steyn were named man of the match and man of the series respectively.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 3rd Test played between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town on Sunday
South Africa's most experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj wants to be as consistent as the seasoned Indian duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin during the upcoming three-Test series.
'...the guys who are just part of Test cricket, I think for them to prepare and play domestic cricket is very, very important.'
Australia's former pacer will be back in Pakistan cricket as head coach of Pakistan Super League's new franchise, Kingsmen Hyderabad, after parting ways with PCB in late 2024 following a stint with the national men's team.
Fast bowler Shaun Pollock took four for 32 as England were shot out for 139 in the first innings of the second Test.
Australia captain Alyssa Healy is set to make a comeback in the ICC Women's World Cup semi-final against India on Thursday.
The off-spinner said the visitors are only interested in drawing the series in India.
Shaheen Shah Afridi's Test future is under scrutiny after he was sidelined for the two-Test series against the West Indies at home.
Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar and Madhya Pradesh's run machine Rajat Patidar on Sunday got their maiden India call-up for the upcoming three match ODI series against South Africa, starting in Lucknow on October 6.
The first match of the two-Test series between India and South Africa will be played at Nagpur's VCA stadium in Jamtha from February 6 to 10, while the second will be at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from the 14th to 18th. The Proteas are scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on January 31 and proceed to Nagpur the next day, according to sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
South Africa coach Mark Boucher said winning his first Test match in charge was as good as the many victories he enjoyed as a player after his maiden triumph against England on Sunday. The 107-run victory in the first Test at Centurion Park came a fortnight after Boucher, 43, was appointed to the post after a shake-up of Cricket South Africa's structures at the start of the month.
Dom Bess took three more South African wickets, and grabbed his first test five wicket haul, to increase England's stranglehold
'I've had quite a bit of skill sessions and some training sessions. So, I feel much, much better.'
South Africa are fired up to perform in the dead-rubber fourth Test against England and will 'play hard' as they try to salvage battered pride, young Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said on Tuesday. England have wrapped up the series as they take an unassailable 2-0 lead into the final Test starting in Pretoria on Friday, but the 20-year-old Rabada said the match was an opportunity for South Africa to rebuild. "There is another game to play and we have to look to the future," he told reporters. "We are trying to stay positive, there is another match and we are going to rock up and play hard. We are not going to throw in the towel, it's unlike us to do that."
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