India started day three of the fourth Test in a difficult position following a poor batting display on Friday evening in Nagpur.
However, a defiant partnership of 198 between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli saw the hosts move closer to England's first innings total of 330.
Kohli was dismissed shortly after reaching three figures and Dhoni was run out on 99 as England took four wickets in the final session of the day to regain control of the Test match.
Find out how the drama unfolded below.
Good morning everyone. Yesterday was a very big day in the context of this series as England looked to end any hopes of an India revival in Nagpur.
Jimmy Anderson took the key wickets of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar before the close of play yesterday and he already seems to have got more movement than Ishant Sharma did in England's innings.
Have India got the spirit to stage a comeback today? As the pressure on captain Dhoni increases, it's time for him to make his first contribution of the series. An early wicket for England will spur the tourists on and a low score would effectively end chances of a victory for India.
England's decision to play two seamers on this pitch could be a master stroke. The ball started to reverse before the close of play yesterday and Anderson in particular looked dangerous with every ball he bowled.
The partnership between Root and Swann early yesterday looks a very important one and India seem miles away from 330 on this pitch.
The England players are heading out onto the field and are closely followed by Kohli and Dhoni, a man under real pressure as day three begins.
Anderson will bowl the first over of the day as India begin 243 runs behind the tourists.
Dhoni is off the mark immediately with an inside towards square leg for a single before Kohli is beaten on the outside edge by one that holds its line. India's number four then defends the remaining deliveries and it's just one run from the day's first over.
Panesar starts with the ball from the other end and Dhoni is off strike midway through the over with a punch to mid-off. Kohli looks unsure against the spinner but he defends the rest of the over.
Anderson is giving the ball every chance of swinging by starting the over very full before pulling his length back to bring a false cut shot from Dhoni. It's an inside edge but the ball bounces to safety rather than onto the stumps. A thick outside edge later in the over brings Dhoni four runs to third man.
Good over from Panesar but there doesn't seem to be too much encouragement for the spinner yet this morning. Kohli defends well on the back foot and it's a maiden.
Too wide from Anderson in the over and Dhoni isn't willing to play any loose shots that far outside off stump while his side are in this position. It's another maiden.
Very nice from Panesar to find the outside edge of Kohli but the ball drops well short of Trott at slip to prove how slow this pitch is. The batsmen run a single before Dhoni rocks back to keep a low ball out.
Anderson strays onto the pads allowing Kohli to clip the ball to fine leg, where Panesar does well to restrict India to two runs. Good response from Anderson to deliver five dot balls but Kohli's defence is solid. Cautious batting from India.
Good length from Panesar in the over and Dhoni looks eager to defend on the back foot but that could be a dangerous game if the ball keeps low. The effects of the roller mean not much is happening for the slower bowler yet.
Bresnan is on to replace Anderson and he immediately finds the inside edge of Kohli but the ball crashes into his pads and then to safety. The same batsman thinks twice about taking a quick single to mid-on at the end of the over and Bresnan starts with a maiden.
Lovely over from Panesar as he delivers six identical deliveries just outside off stump to have Dhoni reaching for the ball. Signs of a bit of extra bounce for the Sussex spinner in that over. Good pressure from England.
Excellent over from Bresnan until Kohli ends the run of maidens with a beautiful cover drive for four runs to bring up 100 for India. A good comeback from Bresnan but an inside edge means Kohli has one more run to fine leg. The hosts still trail by 229.
Panesar floats one just outside off stump and finds the inside edge of Kohli but the ball drops to safety. Good variations shown by the spinner and there's another maiden from the spinner.
Dhoni seems to have the right mindset this morning and he chooses when to play well during Bresnan's over. Not much happening in the game but England remain in a very strong position.
Swann is into the attack for his first spell of the morning. There's a bit of bounce from the second ball but the line is wrong and the Indian duo run a leg bye. A shorter ball allows Dhoni to rock back and cut through the off-side, collecting four runs in the process.
Spin from both ends now as Panesar swaps ends to replace Bresnan. Good work from the returning bowler and Kohli is left annoyed when Dhoni rejects his call for a single to mid-wicket. Kohli does take one to cover from the final ball to keep the strike, the last thing India need is a run out.
Swann is a bit too short in the over and Kohli collects three runs with a cut to deep point before Dhoni pushes a single to cover. Bell does well at short leg from the fifth ball to prevent another run and it's four from the over.
End of the first hour in Nagpur as Dhoni and Kohli trade singles in Panesar's over. Crucially for India, they are yet to lose a wicket but England remain in charge. Time for a drinks break.
Swann continues following that break and he finds some big bounce in the over but Kohli gets a slight touch on the ball to earn four runs to fine leg. The spinner sends the ball the other way but a thick edge allows the Indian pair to run two more to third man before Kohli pushes a single to cover to complete a good over for the hosts.
Kohli drives the ball into the air but the ball drops just short of Bell at short cover. A beauty from Panesar follows and Kohli is bemused by the ball that beats him on the outside edge. Just a single from the over, Kohli is on 32 now and Dhoni is still there on 20.
Good cricket from India as Kohli sneaks a single with a nudge to Panesar at short fine leg. Dhoni has to be alert when one keeps low from Swann before a half appeal for lbw is rejected by Rod Tucker.
Kohli is living dangerously when he inside edges a cut shot but the ball deflects to safety onto the off side. Better from Kohli when he sends the ball to the point boundary with the same shot later in the over.
Dhoni turns his bat well to collect a single to square leg, bringing Kohli on strike. Swann is finding more turn now but not in the greatest areas. Cook has a leg slip in but I'm not sure how often someone is dismissed there in test cricket. Two singles from the over.
Panesar breezes through a maiden over and it might be time for a spell of Anderson before lunch.
Swann ruins another good over when he goes round the wicket to deliver a half tracker which is promptly smashed to the boundary by Dhoni for four runs.
Kohli drives the ball between the two fielders at short cover to pick up a single. Not much else of interest in the over with Dhoni moving back into block mode.
It's Bresnan rather than Anderson who comes on to replace Swann 30 minutes before lunch. Poor fielding from Bell at cover allows Kholi to sneak a couple of runs with a cut shot before a nudge to mid-wicket brings India's number four a single. Great determination being shown by these two this morning.
Panesar continues his spell with Kohli remaining watchful outside off stump. It's a maiden over.
Bresnan begins a new over but he doesn't seem to be getting too much movement so far today. A push to point brings Dhoni a single but Kohli can't find the same result with a mistimed cut shot. Much like yesterday, I'm not sure if the bowlers will get much swing until this evening. A short ball from Bresnan doesn't surprise Kohli and he collects a run to deep square leg.
Panesar probes away outside off stump but a fuller delivery is well driven to cover for a single by Kohli. Dhoni blocks out the rest of the over. Cook may turn to a part-time bowler to test this pair's concentration levels.
We've seen the Kohli's best performance of this series in this knock and he moves to 45 with a single to deep square leg. Dhoni then gets on top of the bounce to pull the ball to Swann deep on the leg-side.
Dhoni is fortunate not to send the ball towards Panesar with a leading edge midway through a new over from the Sussex spinner. India's captain has his eyes on the lunch break and it's a maiden over.
It is a part-time bowler who will finish the session with the ball as Root comes on to test his off-spinners. The Yorkshire youngster is a good one-day bowler but this a very different arena. Kohli gets off strike with a push to long-on before Dhoni collects two runs with a nudge to fine leg. The home skipper cuts the final ball away for two more runs and that's the end of the first session.
Lunch: Not many talking points from that session but India will be very happy with their work this morning. Kohli has played very well for his 45 while Dhoni is showing some fight to move to 31.
England won't be too disheartened by events this morning and they still lead by 174 runs. India need another big session after lunch and how they play the second new ball will be crucial to their hopes.
We'll take a break while the players have their lunch in Nagpur. Make sure you come back in around 30 minutes when this contest continues.
Welcome back. In seven overs the second new ball will be due and if India can work through that tricky period, they will be in a much better position than what looked possible yesterday. Batting looks pretty easy on this pitch but Dhoni and Kohli deserve credit for the way they have applied themselves this morning
England's bowlers did well this morning without looking too threatening. Anderson hasn't been involved too much but expect him to play a big role in this session.
Interestingly, this morning was the first time India have batted through a session without losing a wicket since the first Test in Ahmedabad.
Cook leads his players out of the dressing room with Dhoni and Kohli closely following behind. It will be Swann who begins a new spell and a wicket before the new ball arrives would be priceless for England.
Kohli continues to block as the new session begins but his partner rejects calls for a single when Panesar fields well at fine leg. A flick through mid-wicket means Kohli will keep the strike for the next over.
It's Panesar who partners Swann with the ball and it's a very nice over from the Sussex ace. Kohli looks comfortable and he blocks out a maiden.
Good running from Dhoni as he sneaks a single with a prod to Anderson at mid-off but that's the only blemish to a decent over from Swann. This pitch is very, very slow and even the slightest bit of turn is failing to threaten the Indian pair.
Cook is trying his best to rally the troops in the field but you get the feeling that England are just waiting for the new ball to come. A loopy delivery on leg stump allows Dhoni to push the ball onto the leg-side for a single before Kohli reaches his fifty in style with a gorgeous cover drive. Big innings from Kohli but India need him to keep going for a while yet.
Swann finds a bit of turn when Dhoni advances down the crease but the ball hits the pads and lands on the leg-side. Good variation of pace from the spinner as he sends down a flatter delivery but Dhoni does well to keep the ball away from the stumps. A nudge to square leg brings a single for India's skipper at the end of the over.
The pace of the pitch allows Dhoni to rock back and push a single to mid-on before Kohli cuts the ball powerfully straight to Pietersen at point. Just the one run from the over, India's run-rate is below two. We'll leave the debate about this horror of a pitch for another day.
Panesar fails to prevent the Indian pair from running a quick single to short fine leg before Kohli flicks the ball to point for another run. Dhoni opens his shoulders up to heave the ball over mid-wicket for four runs and that's the first time we've seen a shot like that from India's captain in this innings.
The new ball is available but Cook doesn't take it just yet and Panesar continues. England's spinner comes round the wicket to Dhoni but the ball won't do enough for him to rip through Kohli's defence from there. It's an easy over for India as both Kohli and Dhoni take singles with nudges to square leg.
The new ball is taken and predictably it's Anderson who comes back for a new spell. Big period of play coming up for both sides.
It's a bit of a loose delivery first up from Anderson and Dhoni punishes him by sending the shiny new ball to the boundary rope. England's swing king responds well and he beats the outside edge with a beauty later in the over to leave Dhoni starting at the pitch.
Bresnan will share the new cherry with Anderson but in his first over he fails to trouble Kohli. It's a maiden and this new ball hasn't done much yet.
Two run for Dhoni as he moves closer to a half century with a thick edge to third man. There is some extra bounce for Anderson in the over but it's too wide to cause a problem. Good fielding from Compton restricts Dhoni to a single at point and it's three from the over.
A single from Dhoni brings up the century partnership and it's been a great show of defiance from this pair. Kohli pulls the ball to mid-wicket to bring his captain back on strike and he reaches his fifty with four through point. Important knock from the skipper following some big pressure from the Indian media. Seven runs are scored from Bresnan's over.
Anderson isn't finding a lot of movement and Cook has had a brief conversation with the umpires with England appearing to be unhappy with the ball. A flick off the hip allows Dhoni to collect a single to fine leg and he'll keep the strike.
Bresnan's spell didn't last long and Panesar is back into the attack to have a go with the harder ball. The former does the fielding in the deep when Dhoni drives through extra cover for two runs. A push to mid-wicket brings Kohli on strike, Prior shuffles the field from behind the stumps but it makes little difference as the batsman proceeds to block out the over.
Panesar's over may have been to allow the seamers to swap ends as Bresnan comes back into the attack. Dhoni drives the ball firmly to extra cover for a single and before Kohli plays an even better version of the shot to earn four runs. The latter then opens the face to pick up a single and keep the strike.
Anderson doesn't come back so his short spell comes to an end. Kohli takes advantage of some width from Panesar to push the ball through the cover and reach the boundary rope again. Dhoni is forced to apologise when he calls for a single following Kohli's decision to stay in his crease. It's time for a drinks break.
Difficult period for England and Cook but a wicket could change things in an instant. Dhoni takes his time to return to the middle but the Indian duo eventually do and it's time for Bresnan to continue.
Better from Bresnan as he finds a very straight line to Dhoni. There's a hint of swing for the Yorkshire bowler but the India skipper does well to keep the ball out. Maiden over for Bresnan.
Swann returns for a new spell and he beats the outside edge of Kohli with one that keeps low but Prior can't read the bounce either and it's four byes. England's wicketkeeper will be disappointed with that piece of work behind the stumps.
Bresnan is resorting to his old style of wicket to wicket bowling and that's surely the best tactic on this pitch. A push to cover brings Dhoni a single and a poor throw from Cook allows the Indian pair to sneak through another run. Sloppy from England and India are looking very comfortable.
Kohli cuts Swann's first ball of a new over behind point for three runs as India bring up the 200. Wow! Big shot from Dhoni as he lofts the ball over long-on for a huge six. Maybe the skipper knows it's time for India to put their foot down. Two singles follow and it's 11 from the over.
Panesar is too short midway through his over as he returns for a new spell, allowing Kohli to cut the ball powerfully for four runs. Not much else from the over with Kohli defending well.
Bresnan swaps ends, replacing Anderson. England need to step their game up a bit now as India are looking to increase the tempo. A flick through the leg-side earns Dhoni two runs and Bresnan struggles with his line throughout the over. A fumble from Compton at point gifts India two more. Bresnan's appeals for lbw are rejected by Rod Tucker with the ball appearing to be heading past leg stump. England need a spark from somewhere.
Panesar is still toiling away with the ball but it just won't spin for him today. It's a decent over and despite Dhoni's attempts to sneak a single, it's also a maiden.
Kohli works the ball onto the leg-side nicely to get off strike at the beginning of Bresnan's over. Dhoni offers a half chance to Bresnan but the bowler can't get down quick enough to take a spectacular catch. There's a shake of the head from umpire Tucker when England go up for lbw but once again the ball would have missed leg stump. Three runs come in the over but there is some encouragement for England there.
Strange scenes in Nagpur as the drinks come on for England's fielders to take a break. There's just over 10 minutes until tea, get on with it!
Panesar delivers a beauty immediately after the break and the ball is an inch away from clipping the off stump. Painful viewing for England. Kohli and Dhoni trade singles with both players looking composed in the seventies. One more run for Kohli and it's three from the over.
Anderson is back for a short spell before tea, replacing Bresnan. Kohli gets England excited when he almost chops the ball onto his stumps but the luck is still with India at the moment. A wider delivery at the end of the over allows Kohli to free his arms and this time he earns four runs.
Panesar breezes through another maiden over and that's the end of the session. It's another great couple of hours for India.
Tea: The partnership between Dhoni and Kohli is now worth 156 and the hosts now trail England by 103 runs. England have lost their spark today and they need to be careful because the signs suggest that Dhoni is eager to put his foot down.
If India can bat until the close without losing a wicket, the pressure will certainly be on England. Still a long way to go in the match but this pitch is yet to change.
England still have the edge but this partnership has knocked the spirit out of the tourists. Another spell of magic from Anderson is needed but the ball is doing even less than yesterday.
Plenty of discussions circulating regarding the pitch in Nagpur. Surfaces like this will drive people away from Test cricket and from an Indian point of view the pitch is not helping them chase the victory they desperately need to draw the series.
Cook needs to give his team a boost ahead of this final session. The players are nearly ready to begin, Anderson bowl.
Good over from Anderson, who finds a good line just outside off stump. Kohli is equal to the threat though and the final session starts with a maiden.
Dhoni is getting very far forward to Panesar but he refuses a single twice despite Kohli's calls. A run does come with a clip to square leg and that's the only blemish on the over.
Compton does well at point to block Dhoni's push at the start of Anderson's over. A nudge off the pad earns the captain a single before Kohli drives the ball firmly through the covers for four runs. Dhoni nearly ruins his hard work with a needles flirt outside off stump but Anderson is left frustrated with the lack of an edge. Five runs come from the over.
Dhoni has now faced more balls in this innings than he has in any of his other knocks in Test cricket. Panesar rushes through his over and it's a maiden. Kohli is now on 80 and his skipper has 788.
Good pace shown by Anderson in the over but he begins too wide to threaten Kohli. It's another maiden but Kohli's defence is looking unbeatable at the moment.
Dhoni does well to pick the gap on the off-side for a single before Kohli misses out on a boundary by hammering a short ball straight to Pietersen at mid-on. There is a single for him at cover and it's two from the over.
Good looking shot from Kohli to earn three runs through mid-wicket, with captain Cook doing the fielding in the deep. Even better from Dhoni as he opens the face to guide the ball past backward point for four.
Panesar loses his length midway through a new over and Kohli takes advantage by pulling the ball through mid-wicket for a boundary. India are improving their run-rate while England look tired in the field.
Swann returns to the attack to replace Anderson but he can't stop Dhoni collecting two runs from the first ball with a nudge to square leg. A single brings Kohli on strike and despite a chase from Panesar, a quick check with TV umpire confirms four runs courtesy of a whip off the pads. There's another single for Dhoni, who moves to 86 while Kohli now has 91. India trail by 76 runs.
Kohli pushes Panesar through the covers for a single and Dhoni is more than happy to defend the remainder of the over.
Swann does his best to give the ball a rip but the spinners are still getting no help from the pitch and it's a maiden over.
Dhoni takes a big step forward to prod Panesar through the off-side for a single before Kohli's call for a single is rejected by the skipper. Always a chance of a run out with these two you feel and that could be the only way England will take a wicket.
Great work from bell at short square leg to stop Dhoni sneaking a single but a cut shot allows the home captain to pick up three runs through third man. There's a bit more turn in the over but it's not enough to cause problems for Kohli.
A single is on offer for Kohli to cover at the start of Panesar's over. Painful viewing for England fans as this partnership moves to 190.
Century for Kohli! A cut shot through the off-side brings Kohli four runs and that's his third Test hundred. Great effort from India's number five and he deserves plenty of credit for this performance.
Cook decides it's time for a change as he introduces Bresnan into the attack again. Good start to the over but Dhoni finds a single with a push just in front of Compton at point before Kohli punches the ball through mid-wicket for another run. One more for Dhoni through cover and it's time for drinks.
Wicket! Kohli (103) lbw b Swann
England finally take a wicket! Swann's first ball gets past Kohli's bat and it's an easy lbw decision for Rod Tucker. The partnership is ended, big moment for England. Jadeja is in next.
The bad news for England is that Jadeja has two treble centuries in domestic cricket already this season. They can't allow the debutant to get in on this pitch. Wicket maiden for Swann.
Bresnan continues but he can't create any magic with the ball. Dhoni takes a single and that's the only blemish on the over.
Dhoni opens the face to guide the ball to third man for three runs bringing Jadeja on strike. The new batsman is off the strike with a clip off his pads for three.
Jadeja goes hard at a wider delivery from Bresnan but he makes enough contact to beat Trott at slip and earn four runs to third man. A nudge to square leg then brings him a single and Dhoni does well to keep out an in-swinging delivery towards the end of the over.
It looks like Jadeja has a nice technique on first look and he blocks out a Swann over.
Anderson returns for a new spell before the close of play and Cook will be desperate for a bit of magic. Dhoni gets off strike with a single before Jaedja adds four to his total with a thick edge past Prior. A big lbw appeal ends the over but umpire Dharmasena shakes his head with the ball appearing to have struck Jadeja outside the line of off stump.
Swann delivers a beauty to beat Dhoni on the outside edge before the Indian skipper moves to 97 with a push to cover. England could do with another wicket before the close of play.
Dhoni edges closer to three figures with a cut to deep point.
Wicket! Jadeja (12) lbw b Anderson
Anderson goes round the wicket to Jadeja and he gets one to crash into the new boy's pads. Umpire Dharmasena quickly raises his finger and it looks a good decision. Brilliant from Anderson and Ashwin is the new batsman.
Dhoni might be starting to get a little twitchy on 98 and he almost edges the ball to Prior at the start of Swann's new over. It's a maiden and India still trail by 42.
We saw Ashwin's quality with the bat in Kolkata but this is a tough challenge with so little time left in the day. Good defence from the new batsman and he is off the mark with two runs through cover before making it three with a push to point.
Ashwin opens the face slightly to collect a couple of runs to third man from the second ball of Swann's over. Dhoni waits impatiently at the non-striker's end but there's no more runs so the century could be coming for the Indian skipper.
Dhoni rushes through a run with a flick to square leg but there's not a second on offer and he remains on 99. A hopeful lbw appeal is quickly dismissed by Rod Tucker with the ball pitching very far outside the line of leg stump. Ashwin takes a single from the final ball to keep the strike and to extend Dhoni's wait for a century.
Swann breezes through another over and it's a maiden. Dhoni, on 99, will be on strike to Anderson.
Wicket! Dhoni (99) run out (Cook)
Oh dear Mr Dhoni. The India skipper calls for a quick single on 99 but a great throw from Cook dislodges the bails. The third umpire has plenty of looks at the replay and it is close but Dhoni doesn't make his ground and he goes. He deserved a century but what a finish to the day for England!
A single to point from Ashwin is followed by a nudge to square leg from Chawla to end a very good over from Anderson. That really was a fantastic piece of fielding from Cook at mid-off and it's changed the complexion of this match again.
Wicket! Chawla (0) b Swann
It gets even better for England! Swann gets the ball to turn and bounce before crashing into Chawla's off stump. Cook will be delighted with this response in the evening. The umpires decide that's enough for the day.
Close of play: That just shows how quickly Test cricket can change. India have looked untroubled all day but England take four wickets in the final session to take control once again.
India are still 30 runs behind heading into day four and England will be confident of wrapping up this innings tomorrow morning. Amazing end to an average day in Nagpur following that Indian fightback.
Thanks for joining me throughout the day and be sure to stay with Sports Mole as this fascinating series comes to an end over the next couple of days, goodbye.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
