India dominated England on Day 4 of the fourth Test in all departments and are on the verge of clinching the match on the final day. After some brilliant batting from Virat Kohli and Jayant Yadav earlier on Sunday, the India bowlers took advantage of their 231-run lead and kept England batsmen under pressure, who finished on 182 for six wickets at the end of play on Day 4. England still trail by 49 runs.
With this, India are favourites to win the series, but they need to dismiss the remaining four wickets and score the required runs, if any, to emerge victorious on the last day. Bairstow will be key to England if they are to even save the Test match, which will be a mountainous task.
After India piled 631 runs in the first innings in reply to England's 400, the home side enjoyed a healthy lead of 231 runs. Hence, England were in pressure during the second innings of the Test match to start well, and all eyes were on the two left-handed openers Alistair Cook and Keaton Jennings, who had scored a ton in the first innings on debut.
But Jennings could not deliver in the second innings as he was dismissed for a golden duck in the first over, giving England the worst start imaginable. With this wicket, India were pumped up and its bowlers were on top of the game, pressurising the batsmen with fielders in close catching position as well.
Just when one thought England batsmen were comfortable at the crease, England lost two quick wickets in the form of Cook and Moeen Ali within a span of 2 overs or so. Ravindra Jadeja scalped both the wickets before tea. They were 49 for the loss of three wickets, with their back against the wall.
England players, primarily Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, dug in deep and also played some positive cricket to take their total past 100 runs, though they were tested by the bowlers consistently.
Root was looking a class act, hitting some wonderful fours. He was not allowing the bowlers to settle much, but the India spinners were bowling a tight line and length, with the pitch aiding the spinners, leading to a good battle between ball and bat.
India finally managed to dismiss Root as Jadeja trapped the right-hander leg before wicket, as the right-hander missed the ball deep inside the crease. Root made 77 runs in the second innings. With the wicket of Root, who has been one of their best batsmen in the series, England were in trouble with the need of Bairstow and Ben Stokes to shoulder the innings.
Bairstow took over the mantle from Root, and came up with a brilliant half-century, but lost Stokes as soon as the right-hander reached the small milestone. Ashwin dismissed Stokes, who went for a reverse sweep, was caught by Murali Vijay. Stokes' wicket was a huge loss to England late on the day with just a few overs remaining for stumps.
The situation got even worse with night watchman Jake Ball falling prey to Ashwin in the final over of the day to wrap up an amazing day for India.