Kumar, 24, carded a six-under-par 66, one off the course record, to finish on 11-under 133.

Briton Simon Hurd was in second place after compiling a 70 for 137. South Africa's Simon Griffiths (72) and Indian Firoz Ali (73) were joint third, a further three strokes adrift.

South African Hendrik Buhrmann, the first-round leader, carded five bogeys in a three-over 75 to slip to joint fifth with Australians Marcus Both and Jarrod Moseley and American Bryan Saltus.

Kumar almost aced his first hole, the par-three 10th, when his eight-iron rolled to within a foot off the pin to earn the first of his seven birdies at the picturesque course near Mumbai.

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"On this course you can't give away shots and I had to focus on every hole," he told reporters. "You never know what is going to happen tomorrow."

Hurd's game fluctuated for the second consecutive day as his five birdies were offset by three dropped shots.

"It's windier in the afternoon so the course plays a bit tougher and the fairways play a bit tighter," he said. "Good luck to the Indian guy who is leading, I'll try to reel him in."

A total of 67 players made the cut at four-over in the inaugural tournament, one of two Asian Tour events in India.