Having been bowled out in 51.2 overs with a lead of just 23, England faced a difficult evening session with an already depleted bowling attack having to cope without the injured Chris Woakes.
A lively morning session saw Gus Atkinson complete a five-wicket haul as England efficiently mopped up India’s lower order once more, but despite much-improved consistency from Josh Tongue in particular, the tourists were not drawn into making the same mistakes later in the day.
They were also gifted some assistance from England in the field as Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is unbeaten on 51, was dropped on 20 and 40 and Sai Sudharsan was also put down before he was eventually dismissed by Atkinson for 11.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says that England also have not helped their case with their selections.
Batter Jacob Bethell, 21, is making his first appearance of the series and made just six, having played one red-ball match in seven months. Jamie Overton, 31, came in as England were forced into bowling changes because of a shoulder injury to captain Ben Stokes, and with Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer needing to rest, but he has played only four first-class matches since September 2023.
Overton took 0-66 in India’s first innings, made a duck and is so far wicketless for 22 runs from five overs – though the Sudharsan drop came off his bowling.
“The only thing I’d say on England’s selection is they’ve picked people who have played no cricket and to throw them into this hot bed of international cricket, in front of this amount of people and so many watching on TV screens around the world, it isn’t an easy game.
“It is no surprise they that looked a bit vulnerable out there – because if you’re not going to play cricket, you’re not going to have your body used to playing cricket.
“If you’re throwing a 21-year-old into this situation on the back of one first-class match in our summer, I find that absolutely extraordinary. I don’t think you’re giving a kid the best chance of succeeding at this level.”
