Set a victory target of 192, India reached 40 for no loss at stumps on the third day of the fourth Test against England here on Sunday.
India will take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series if they knock off the required 152 runs on Monday.
At close of play, skipper Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal were batting on 24 and 16 respectively.
Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (5/51) and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/22) shared nine wickets between them to run through the England line-up in their second innings on a pitch offering the slow bowlers enough help.
Ashwin achieved his 35th five-wicket haul in Test matches. England’s lack of experience in facing spin was evident as they attempted to replicate India’s success with the new ball spin, but their unfamiliarity with the task became apparent.
India capitalized on the situation, taking advantage of some loose deliveries and overcooked deliveries from the English bowlers. Consequently, India quickly erased the deficit without losing any wickets, scoring at a rate of 5 runs per over. England was bowled out for 145 in their second essay.
Before the Ashwin-Kuldeep duo got down to bamboozle England with their turn, bounce and guile, young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel showed tremendous game awareness on way to a fine 90-run knock.
Jurel added 76 runs for the eighth wicket with Kuldeep (28) to lift India from a tricky 177/7 and then another 40 runs with Akash Deep to help his side close in on 300.
India’s first innings ended at 307, giving the visitors a lead of 46 runs.
