Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring his seventh double century

Image courtesy of: Deepak Malik / SPORTZPICS for BCCI

India captain Virat Kohli scored a career-best 254 not out to help his side punish South Africa on the second day of the second Test in Pune.

Starting off the day on 273/3, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane converted their 75-run partnership into a 178-run stand before Rahane was was caught behind off the bowling off Keshav Maharaj for 59, which came off 168 balls and included eight boundaries.

Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja kept the runs flowing with a 225-run partnership, during which Kohli surpassed the 250-run mark and Jadeja brought up his fifty.

Just as Jadeja was the on the verge of bringing his century, he was dismissed by Senuran Muthusamy for 91, which came off 104 deliveries and included eight boundaries and two sixes.

As soon as Jadeja was gone, Kohli declared with India on 601/5.

Kohli ended up making 254, which came off 336 balls and included 33 boundaries and two sixes.

Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Maharaj and Muthusamy chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Trailing by 601 runs, South Africa were dealt a huge blow on the eighth ball of their innings as Aiden Markram was trapped lbw off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for a duck.

Dean Elgar only made six runs before he was clean bowled by Yadav.

Things went from bad to worse for the Proteas as Temba Bavuma was caught behind off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for eight runs.

Theunis de Bruyn and debutant Anrich Nortje, who was sent in as the nightwatchman, forged an unbeaten three-run partnership before stumps was called.

De Bruyn finished on 20, which came off 38 balls and included four boundaries, while Nortje remained undefeated on two.

Yadav was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Shami claimed one.

South Africa ended day two on 36/3 and will continue batting on Saturday at 09:30 local time or 04:00 GMT.