Stuart Broad, whose fast bowling masterclass set the tone for England’s day four fightback, says the tourists still have a chance of saving the Visak Test.
Alastair Cook was out to the final ball of the day – giving India the edge in a pulsating Test match as the tourists closed on 87-2, 318 runs short of their victory target.
Cook had resolutely faced 189 balls for his 54 when he cruelly fell lbw to left arm spinner Ravi Jadeja.
England had previously lost Cook’s 19-year-old opening partner Haseeb Hameed for 25 after the pair mounted a rearguard defence with a partnership of 75 in 50.2 overs.
Broad had earlier defied a foot injury to complete figures of 4-33 from 14 overs, with Adil Rashid adding 4-82 as India were all out for 204 in their second innings.
"It (Cook's dismissal) was a bit of shame but I think if you offered us two down after 60 overs on the afternoon on day four on that pitch, we'd have taken that," said Broad.
"I think the way the openers played was spectacular, very calm, collected. I really enjoyed the way we went about it this afternoon and we've got a chance to save this game tomorrow.
"It was a great toss to win a few days ago and the pitch has deteriorated and cracked, but it's not doing anything horrific so we've certainly got a chance.
"(It was) annoying to lose that wicket in the last over but we've got a lot of batting in the team and hopefully someone gets stuck in tomorrow.
"(It was) an absolutely fantastic day for us," he reflected. "We've actually controlled the day, made India slow down with the bat by taking wickets.
"There have been many occasions when a team has been two down overnight coming into day five and saved the game, and that's certainly something we'll have in our mind."
Broad’s lionhearted bowling performance came in the face of a tendon injury that could yet limit his involvement in the remainder of the series.
"It's a bit of a problem with the tendon leading into the second toe, which I did in my second over trying to dive for the ball," he said.
"The way I describe it is like stepping on a plug every time I step on it, so it's been a pretty painful Test match to be involved in to be honest.
"But hopefully with a bit of rest it will clear up quickly and we'll know more about it once the weekend's over.
"We did have a scan a couple of days ago that's gone back to England. It'll be a case of resting it as much as possible over the next few days and then re-look.
“It's too early to say at the moment. I don't like to set too many targets with the body because everyone reacts slightly differently to different injuries," he said.
"Hopefully the next few days I can get my feet up and rest and maybe not be needed with the bat, that would be lovely, and then see how we go."
India had set out on day four, 298 runs ahead with skipper Virat Kohli (56*) and Ajinkya Rahane (22*).
Despite his injury, Broad struck twice early, Rahane (26) gloving to Cook as the ball rose out of a crack, while Ashwin edged to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow for seven.
Kohli had his eye on a second hundred of the match until Rashid struck, with Ben Stokes taking a stunning catch at slip to dismiss the Indian captain for 81.
Rashid enhanced his reputation for mopping up the tail by picking up the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha, Jadeja and Umesh Yadav in quick succession.
India had slumped to 162 for 9 but Jayant Yadav and Mohammed Shami threw the bat to take India’s lead beyond 400.
Yadav took control of the innings, turning down singles, and together the pair put on an entertaining final stand of 42 before Shami was removed by Moeen Ali for 19. Yadav finished unbeaten on 24.
Yadav tested out teenager Hameed with the short ball and, with the cracks widening, it was apparent the English batsmen were going to face a huge test.
Hameed eventually received a horrible delivery from Ashwin that kept low, trapping the Lancashire opener for 25 off 144 balls.
Cook’s obdurate fifty arrived off 172 balls, his slowest for England. Disaster then struck - but England, nevertheless, have hope.
Report by Alex Mason.
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