Shoaib Bashir conquistou o primeiro five-wicket haul em qualquer forma de críquete profissional, mas a Inglaterra encontrou resistência em Ranchi.
A Índia transformou 219 for seven into 307 overnight on the third morning of the fourth Test, largely thanks to Dhruv Jurel going from 30 to 90 before being the last man out at lunchtime.
Tom Hartley broke through a stubborn defence to leave India trailing by 46, after Bashir struck the only wicket he needed for his first five-for in just his eighth first-class appearance and second Test.
Bashir, who finished with five for 119, could have reached the milestone earlier, but Ollie Robinson put down Jurel when he was on 59.
It was a tough morning for Robinson as he again struggled for rhythm, while the seamer bowled three more no-balls, taking his count to six in his first competitive outing since last summer, with a lengthy absence perhaps contributing to a lack of sharpness.
It was left to James Anderson to make the breakthrough for Test wicket 698, although there was an element of luck as Kuldeep Yadav defended with his front foot and the ball rolled back onto the stumps.
Kuldeep propped up his bat and started a slow walk off, clearly distraught at his dismissal for 28, having faced 131 deliveries, following up a handy stand of 76 runs alongside Jurel.
India did not collapse late on as England had 24 hours earlier, sharing 40 precious runs with Akash Deep.
Jurel made 31 of them, hitting Bashir for two sixes after Robinson squandered a chance over his head with the ball bursting through his hands.
Deep briefly came to the crease but soon found himself in a tangle against Bashir, struck on the back pad and given lbw, with England getting the decision overturned by the fourth umpire on review.
Hartley ended Jurel’s counter-attack in the final over before lunch, but it was India’s session with their last three wickets adding 130 to ensure they did not face a significant deficit in the first innings.