India 39/1 after 13 overs: STUMPS! Pujara and Gill play out the overs with precise movement and ease. Leach and Bess have been brilliant in their short spell and will go into the fifth day brimming with confidence.
In another day dominated by England in the larger scheme of things, the visitor struck India with an early blow in its chase in the form of Rohit Sharma. Jack Leach's jaffa castled the Hitman and jeopardised India's plans for a smooth start.
India's bowlers, Ashwin and Ishant Sharma had their moments on the field with their record-breaking hauls. As Ashwin, notched up a 28th five-wicket haul, the paceman picked his 300th Test wicket to enter the record books.
With 381 runs needed on Day 5, a win is highly improbable with reference to history. But as we keep up with the trends of the times, this game could sway to different corners.
That's all for the day, folks. Join us tomorrow for an exciting day's Test cricket as we anticipate a thrilling finish.
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Last over of the day.
India 34/1 after 9 overs: Pujara and Gill try to stay afloat as England continues to attack with Leach and Anderson. Root would be thrilled if his bowlers can induce another moment of brilliance on the stroke of stumps.
India 29/1 after 6 overs: Leach to Rohit. OUT! A peach from the left-arm spinner as he cleans up Rohit's off-stump! Rohit shrugs his bat close to his body, straight to the middle-stump but Leach gets a hint of shape to move past Rohit's bat. The ball rattles the off-stump and India has a massive jolt close to stumps. Rohit Sharma b Leach 12 (20b 1x4 1x6)
KP, that ball would have left most of them flummoxed
India 25/0 after 5 overs: Rohit launches into Archer! He's living dangerously. Archer continues the bouncer barrage and Rohit clears one streakily for a boundary to cow corner. Archer bumps with another and Rohit pulls magestically all the way over the deep midwicket boundary.
India 12/0 after 4 overs: A contrasting start for the openers. Rohit has been watchful yet tentative in defense against Archer. He has left the probing balls outside off but in an uncharacteristic self, has been shunned by the short ball. Gill, on the other hand, has got the scoreboard ticking with three beautiful boundaries against Leach.
India 0/0 after 1 over: A fine over from Archer to Rohit. Rohit has been cautious in leaving the balls outside the offstump channel first up.
Champ Ash!
India begins the chase. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill walk to the centre. Jofra Archer up with the new ball.
England 178 all out after 46.3 overs: Two wickets in three balls for Ashwin. Ashwin cleans up Archer off the first ball and gets a simple catch for himself as Anderson lobs it straight. India is now set a 420-run target as England prolonged its declaration. 28th five-wicket haul for Ashwin.
Washington Sundar gets a ball for the first time today.
England 167/8 after 43 overs: Ashwin to Bess. OUT! Bess stays back in the crease to a ball turning into him and Ashwin hits his back pad. Umpire Anil Chaudhary raises the finger instantly. England showing no signs of declaration yet as Jack Leach walks out to bat. Dom Bess lbw b Ashwin 25 (55b 3x4 0x6)
England 167/7 after 42 overs: OUT! Nadeem gets Buttler. Buttler aims for a biggie over long-on and misses the flighted delivery altogether. Pant collects the ball off the bounce well this time and deceives the bails without a sweat. Buttler's series with the bat has come to an end. Jos Buttler st †Pant b Nadeem 24 (40b 2x4 1x6)
England's lead crosses the 400-run mark. Joe Root makes a move from the dressing room as well. Perhaps, the call is coming up in a few overs.
England 152/6 after 39 overs: India fails to take the review. Ashwin nearly has Buttler there. Wrapped on the pads and pitching in line but the umpire rules it against India. Kohli deliberates with Pant but goes against the review. And there we have it, three reds and India misses the chance to break through.
England 146/6 after 36 overs: Baffling period of play from England. Despite resting on a mammoth lead, Bess and Buttler have cocooned themselves into an inexplicable lull. India will be happy to keep things the way they are for as long as possible as a win is realistically out of the cards.
England 137/6 after 33 overs: England has strode back to a lull. Nadeem and Bess follow a slew of a 'hit-the-pad' challenge as the left-armer continues to pitch into the rough just outside the leg-stump. This is poor batting from Bess as he goes into an ulta-defensive mode against some pretty ordinary effort from Nadeem as well. India can affort to be a bit laid back given its position in the game behind England.
Umm......
England 133/6 after 29 overs: OUT! In a quest for quick runs, Pope has holed out in an ugly manner. Nadeem tightens his length to Pope who still aims for a reverse sweep. The ball hits the edge and pops straight into Rohit's hands at cover. Ollie Pope c RG Sharma b Nadeem 28 (61m 32b 3x4 0x6)
England 123/5 after 28 overs: Buttler and Pope show signs of aggression but Bumrah attacks the stumps with some searing in-swingers. England might possibly be eyeing a lead of 400 before the declaration comes into play.
We are back for the final session of the day. England would eye to chip in a few overs to the Indian batsmen before close of play.
England 119/5 after 27 overs: TEA. India has a session to cherish finally as it sends the top five back to the hut. The pitch finally began to induce some sharp turn and bounce and the English batsmen have found it tough to get going. Joe Root will be wondering as to how much time his bowlers would need to get to bowl India out. England has raked in quick runs in this sessions albeit at the cost of half the side.
Fair to say, Ishant's ripened well with time.
Congo, Pant!
England 105/5 after 24 overs: Bumrah gets the England captain! A similar delivery that nearly removed Lawrence in his previous over. Bumrah's extra pace does the damage as Root misses the inswinging delivery altogether. England loses half its side and Root will be wondering about his declaration now. Joe Root lbw b Bumrah 40 (32b 7x4 0x6)
England 95/4 after 22 overs: India loses its second review. Bumrah zips in one sharply to Pope's pads and India goes straight up for a review. The umpires have been spot on and Nitin Menon is on the money once again. The ball misses the leg-stump by a few inches.
Jasprit Bumrah in for the first time in the 2nd innings.
England 72/4 after 19 overs: Ashwin to Stokes. OUT! Ash has castled Stokesy! Eighth time that Ashwin has dismissed the southpaw. We finally get to see a contest on a traditional Indian wicket. Ashwin draws Stokes to drive away from his body outside the off-stump and a slim inside edge rushes on to Pant. Ashwin gets his third! Ben Stokes c †Pant b Ashwin 7 (12b 1x4 0x6)
England 58/3 after 16 overs: Ishant to Lawrence. OUT! Ishant picks his 300th Test wicket. Lawrence has himself stuck in the crease as Ishant weaves magic with a shade of reverse swing. Hits low on the pad of Lawrence and it's curtains for the no.3. Dan Lawrence lbw b I Sharma 18 (47b 1x4 0x6)
England 45/2 after 14 overs: Root has swept well on arrival and has taken Nadeem out of the attack. Ishant has begun well at his end and has tailed in the ball with a hint of reverse swing early on.
Ishant Sharma into the attack.
England 32/2 after 11 overs: OUT! Ashwin snaps Sibley. The change of angle works as Ashwin comes from around the wicket to Sibley. The ball turns a hint after pitching at the middle. Sibley presses forward but fails to play for the turn. The inside edge flies straigh to Pujara at leg slip as India removes the English openers early. Dom Sibley c Pujara b Ashwin 16 (37b 2x4 0x6)
England 27/1 after 10 overs: Nadeem has baffled Sibley and Lawrence with the bounce time and again but the no-ball spree continues as well. 23rd no-ball by the Indians in this Test.
England 16/1 after 6 overs: Sibley makes a move on as he lashes Nadeem for a boundary off a loose delivery outside off. The opener has been delicate in his touch and that has been the hallmark of his knock in the first innings as well.
England 1/1 after 3 overs: The ball has begun to spit fire. Ashwin has got the ball to drift and sharply and Dan Lawrence is put under the pump. A sign of things to come, certainly, but with the way the Indians played spin in the first innings, Kohli's boys will be as worried as the visitor.
Ashwin continues with the new ball. Lawrence takes guard at the crease.
We are back for the second session!
An interesting session beckons as all eyes will be on how well England handles it declaration.
England 1/1 after 2 overs: LUNCH. Nadeem gets the ball turn and spring up from the pitch as well. Sibley is taken aback by the steep bounce and the pitch has begun to show up new colours. The sides head into lunch with England still in the driver's seat with a lead of 242 runs. Kohli and Co. will hope to snaffle the plans of the English lineup and stop its bid to set a massive target.
England 0/1 after 1 over: Ashwin to Burns. OUT! First ball!
Ashwin sends the opener back first up. Excellent from India to begin with one of its premier new-ball bowlers! Ashwin gets massive turn and bounce as it swirls into Burns who nudges it to Rahane at leg slip!
Rory Burns c Rahane b Ashwin 0 (1b)
We are back. England openers Burns and Sibley at the crease. Ashwin picks up the new ball.
A massive 241-run lead for the visitor. Feel for Sundar who is stranded on 84 and misses out on a hundred at his home ground. India has fallen flat on this Chepauk highway and England will be poised to bat for a session and a half with an aggressive mindset. Ben Stokes could have a promotion up the order too!
India 337 all out after 96 overs: OUT! Anderson bowls out India. An excellent catch from Ben Stokes in the slips! With two balls remaining in the over, Sundar gave away the strike to Bumrah. Anderson gets the outside edge and the ball rushes to present a low chance to Stokes to his right. Stokes moves low and clings onto it in a sensational take.
India 336/9 after 95 overs: Sundar takes on Root! A cracking six down the ground with a delightful punt through the covers as well to make his intentions clear. Sundar deftly sneaks in a single off the final ball to retain the strike as well. India needs 43 to avoid follow-on.
India 323/9 after 94 overs: OUT! Anderson bumps out Ishant. A good bouncer that grows onto Ishant who tries to shove it down but presents itself as an easy catch for short leg. Sundar would now just be advised to go after the bowlers and rake in as much as possible. Ishant Sharma c Pope b Anderson 4 (11b 1x4 0x6)
1000 first-class runs for Ishant Sharma and he brings it up in style with an excellent slog-sweep boundary off Leach.
India 312/8 after 91 overs: Leach to Nadeem. OUT! A gentle delivery outside and Nadeem pushes forward with hard hands and edges it. A simple catch for Ben Stokes as India slumps further. Shahbaz Nadeem c Stokes b Leach 0 (12b 0x4 0x6)
India 312/7 after 90 overs: Ashwin's dismissal has put Sundar on the backfoot. He has however, looked firm and at ease in the crease and has foiled Archer's plans to get him out.
India 305/7 after 87 overs: Leach to Ashwin. OUT! The left-armer finally has his reward. Ashwin gets low on the ball outside off-stump and presses forward. Leach gets some extra bounce on the ball and induces the edge off Ashwin. Buttler dives forward and completes an excellent catch to break the partnership. Ravichandran Ashwin c †Buttler b Leach 31 (91b 3x4 1x6)
India moves past 300! A fine start to the day for Ashwin and Sundar.
India 298/6 after 85 overs: Ashwin and Sundar have put up some exquisite strokes against Archer and Anderson as Pujara looks in awe from the dressing room.
India 289/6 after 82 overs: Archer gets the new ball talking immediately with an extra zip and bounce that surprises Sundar.
England takes the new ball.
Anderson and Archer are back into the attack. England has still resisted the temptation to take the new ball surprisingly.
India 284/6 after 80 overs: Fifty for Washington Sundar! India have motored away in the first overs of the morning and Sundar has stood up with some classical drives against Leach and Bess. The testing period may begin with the new ball due to be taken now.
India 273/6 after 77 overs: Ashwin takes Bess all the way! Bess dishes one in outside the rough and Ashwin takes the aerial route down the ground over long-on for a six. Both batsmen have come out with positive intent against the spinners.
R Ashwin vs England in Tests -No better day than this to add another fifty to the tally.
India 262/6 after 75 overs: Fine start from Sundar!
Bess chips one short and Sundar rocks back and creams it through the covers.
Right. Day 4 underway! Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, the Chennai boys, walk out to the centre. Dom Bess picks up the ball for England.
Skipper Kohli has had a few headaches on his return. India steps out to heal the wounds today.
An hour for action to resume. Will England push India further down and enforce a follow-on?
Numbers Game - Day 3
Pant's madness and misery
Marathon Ash
England punishes India in the field
Preview
After a third successive day of domination from England, India is in dire straits against the visitor in a performance of stark contrast from its Gabba heist 20 days ago.
After England jeopardised India's opening pair early on in a fiery spell by Jofra Archer, India's premier batsmen Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane succumbed to Dom Bess' off-breaks in a rather poor display against spin once again.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant survived long enough to save few blemishes as the duo's 119-run partnership put India in good stead. But, it was Dom Bess' day to roll out in Chennai as he snapped Pujara and a menacing Pant soon enough as India stooped further on Day 3.
With the local boys, Sundar and Ashwin out at the middle, India battle to avoid a follow-on which is still 121 hard yards away.
The England captain, Joe Root has not got a foot wrong in the three days, having dominated through every session and scenario of play so far.
What they said
“I think he is a world-class player and one of the best. But it is that process and that is what I was pleased about. I kept it in a spot and then one went straight to (Ollie) Pope (fielder),” Dom Bess on dismissing Virat Kohli.
"It [the aggression] wasn't part of the game plan. We just wanted to bat normally. When we play in India, the scoring rate is always on the higher side. Rishabh likes to take the bowlers on. It is fair. That's his game and that's the way he should play," Cheteshwar Pujara on Rishabh Pant's attacking instincts.
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England XI: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root (c) , Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, James Anderson
India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c) , Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk) , R Ashwin, W Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem
Toss: England won the Toss and opted to bat first
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