Virat Kohli drives India's lead past 400

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane helped India strengthen their grip on the fourth Test with South Africa as the hosts' lead grew to 403 on day three.

The duo put on an unbeaten 133 for the fifth wicket - the first partnership to pass three figures in the series - in Delhi as India edged closer to a 3-0 win over the top-ranked Test side.

Kohli's day was not without controversy, though, the Indian skipper standing firm in the 34th over despite being given out caught behind by umpire Bruce Oxenford.

After exchanging a disapproving glare with the official, Kohli (83 not out) began to leave the field, only for replays to show Imran Tahir (1-49) had overstepped, giving the batsman a reprieve.

And he made the most of his second chance with a patient display, reaching the close 17 runs short of a 12th Test century after hitting 10 boundaries in his 154-ball innings.

India will resume on day four 190-4 with six wickets in hand after the unbeaten pair came off before the scheduled close as bad light stopped play.

Rahane (52 not out) and Kohli's impressive stand came after Morne Morkel (3-29) had given the visitors hope early in the day.

The 31-year-old produced a fine spell of fast bowling to worry the India top order, Morkel reducing them to 8-2 with two wickets in as many balls - a rising delivery removed Murali Vijay (3) before a yorker rearranged Rohit Sharma's (0) stumps.

He sent Shikhar Dhawan (21) back to the pavilion too with another unplayable full-length delivery, but slowly India began to find their feet, with Kohli leading the way.

Tahir bamboozled Cheteshwar Pujara (28) with a faster delivery in the 32nd over, however South Africa's hopes of ousting India cheaply failed to materialise.

They thought they had the prized wicket of Kohli after lunch only for the television replay to show the leg-spinner had overstepped, saving the Indian skipper who looked less-than impressed with umpire Oxenford.

With that reprieve, Kohli and Rahane set about extending the hosts' advantage with a solid partnership that offered few chances.

Rahane maintained his fine form in the series, reaching a third half-century before the close, his dominance in front of the wicket bringing a steady flow of runs.

Both men will return on Sunday keen to make it to three figures before Kohli declares and piles the pressure on the already fragile South African batting line-up.