India captain Virat Kohli played a lone hand with 79 as the tourists were bowled out for 223 on the first day of the decisive third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands.
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The home side were 1-17 in reply at the close on Tuesday having lost second Test matchwinner and captain Dean Elgar. He edged seamer Jasprit Bumrah to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip.
Kohli's form had been under the microscope but he compiled his highest score in 26 Test innings since making 136 against Bangladesh in November 2019.
This enabled India to post a respectable, if disappointing score.
Kohli had won the toss and chosen to bat but only Cheteshwar Pujara (43) and Rishabh Pant (27) provided any sustained support on Tuesday as Kagisho Rabada took 4-73 and Marco Jansen 3-55.
No one else lasted more than an hour on a wicket with seam movement but not the pace and bounce of the Highveld pitches where the first two tests were played.
Kohli batted for 273 minutes having returned to the side after missing the second Test with back spasms. He was ninth out after Rabada's nagging line outside off-stump induced an edge claimed by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.
It was the 15th time in their last 16 tests that South Africa have lost the coin toss but it proved a good one to lose. Elgar conceded he would have batted but his bowlers maintained tight lines to make batting difficult.
Kohli and Pujara added 62 for the third wicket, and Kohli and Pant put on 51 for the fifth, but the last six wickets fell for 56.
The tourists won the first test in Pretoria by 113 runs, before South Africa bounced back with a seven-wicket win in Johannesburg.
India are seeking a first series win in South Africa.
Australian Associated Press
