The South African fast bowler showed he was a bowler for all conditions as he combined express pace and reverse swing to return career-best figures of seven for 51.

Steyn wiped out India’s lower order in the first innings by taking five wickets for three runs with classic reverse swing after he provided the visitors’ early breakthroughs with conventional swing.

The world’s top-ranked bowler had dismissed Murali Vijay for four with one that swung back after setting him up with two outswingers.

He then had Tendulkar caught nibbling to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to put the pressure on India, who were bowled out for 233 in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 558-6d.

"You work on these things and then it’s nice to see guys shoulder arms and then the ball cannons into the stumps," Steyn told reporters, referring to Vijay’s dismissal.

"I got (England’s Ian) Bell like that in Johannesburg and that was where it started from. It’s a skill that you have to have in your armoury as a pace bowler," he said of last month’s drawn series.

Steyn said a lot of planning had gone into the tour with conditions in India being difficult for fast bowlers.