Home favourite SSP Chawrasia fired a four-under second round 67 to move one-shot clear at the Hero Indian Open.
The 26-year-old, a two-time European Tour winner, carded four birdies in a blemish-free second round to pull one stroke clear of defending champion Siddikur Rahman.
Heading in to the back nine one-under after opening with a birdie at the par-five first, Chawrasia, who has yet to drop a shot this week at Delhi GC, took advantage of friendly bounces to birdie the tenth and 11th before making another gain with a six-foot putt at the 16th.
“I’m playing very well the last two days,” Chawrasia told Sky Sports 4. “I’ve played here many times so I know how to play on this course; this is the first time I’m bogey free after 36 holes.
“I feel good and aggressive - I will do the same on the last two days. I’m very happy because I saved a lot of pars: it wasn’t easy to keep the bogeys away from my card, I had to make a lot of saves."
Rahman had pulled three shots ahead earlier in the day with four birdies from his opening 12 holes, before driving in to the bushes at the par-four fourth and running up a double-bogey.
The Bangladeshi recovered strongly, finishing with back-to-back birdies to end three strokes clear of overnight joint-leaders Chapchai Nirat and Joakim Lagergren.
“I was a little bit disappointed with my double bogey because I had a good number of birdies,” the world No 267 said.
“I really enjoy playing here and I want to keep the same rhythm in in the next two rounds. You will definitely have some pressure but I always try my best to avoid it.”
Paul Peterson and Richard McEvoy moved tied-fifth on five-under, with top ranked Anirban Lahiri, who was four-over par after an opening round quadruple-bogey, a further shot back.
The world No 39 surged back into contention with a stunning six-under 65, producing nine birdies in a round which contained only six pars to move within six shots of the leaders.
Miguel Angel Jimenez looked on course to push into the top-10 after five birdies and two bogeys in his first 12 holes, but carded a double-bogey at the 13th and dropped two further shots in a par 71 to remain one-under.
The Race to Dubai ace tally increased to 15 with Prayad Marksaeng making a hole-in-one with a six iron at the fifth and Abhinav Lohan following suit at the 17th, although the latter was unable to make the cut after a quadruple-bogey at his last.
Last week’s Thailand Classic runner-up Scott Hend also missed the cut after posting a triple-bogey and quadruple bogey during a second-round 76.
Watch the third round of the Hero Indian Open live on Saturday from 7am on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.