England arrived at the Wankhede Stadium on day two knowing that an impressive performance was needed if they were to take control of the second Test.
India failed to build on their overnight score and despite a couple of cameo performances, the tourists were able to wrap up the innings with 327 on the scoreboard.
Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann shared nine wickets between them, with the former recording figures of 5-129 on his return to the side.
India looked as though they may take control with two wickets just before tea but a century partnership between Alastair Cook (87*) and Kevin Pietersen(62*) means England are on top heading into day three.
Read how the events of the day unfolded below.
Good morning everyone. There already seems to be a trend beginning to take place in this series. How do England get Cheteshwar Pujara out? India's number three reached his second century before the close of play yesterday evening and he didn't look like he was finished. His dismissal this morning could be huge for England.
Ashwin's knock will have concerned the tourists too. England need to wrap up this innings quickly this morning, with some of the former Mumbai players suggesting 300 could be a good score on this pitch.
What about Mr Panesar? The Sussex spinner was on top form on his return to the side and he has already proved that he should have played in Ahmedabad.
The players are now making their way out of their respective dressing rooms. You feel this could be a very big session and a huge day in the context of this series. It looks like it will be Panesar who bowls the first over of the day. Pujara begins on 114 and Ashwin starts the day on 60.
Panesar finds some decent bounce early on to Ashwin but India's number eight is off the mark with a push to cover. Pujara defends the remainder of the over in trademark fashion.
Jimmy Anderson will bowl from the other end for England.
The crowd is very thinly spread inside the ground once again as Ashwin helps himself to a single to square leg. Anderson has a huge appeal for lbw rejected by Aleem Dar, it looks like an inside edge and that allows Pujara to sneak a single to bring up the 100 partnership between these two. Good over, just the two runs scored.
Cook may be wise to put in a silly point when Panesar is bowling to Pujara. India's centurion looks supreme in defence against the spinner but it's a very good maiden over from Panesar. England must take early wickets.
Good work from Ashwin to hand Pujara the strike at the start of Anderson's over with a nudge to point. Slightly too short to Pujara from Anderson and this pair do well to take three runs from the over.
Panesar is send these deliveries in pretty quick so far this morning and he brings a false shot from Ashwin but the upwards drive lands safely for a single. Another good over from Panesar, with only that single being scored.
Couple of runs for Ashwin to mid-wicket with a well timed flick before Anderson delivers a sharp bouncer just past the batsman's eye-line. Ashwin finds one more single in the deep on the leg-side and Pujara sneaks a run to short cover.
Panesar produces an absolute beauty in a new over that pitches on middle and somehow misses Ashwin's off-stump. So unlucky for England there and he beats the bat once again before the end of the maiden.
Anderson keeps a good line outside off-stump before gifting Pujara the first boundary of the morning with a wider delivery which is rightly sent to the cover boundary rope.
Panesar looks bemused when Tony Hill turns down an lbw decision but on replay, it looks a good decision.
Wicket! Ashwin (68) lbw b Panesar
Panesar has five wickets! England's returning spinner sends down a quicker delivery which strikes Ashwin on the top of the bad as he attempts to play on the back foot. Tony Hill raises his finger and England have a much needed breakthrough. Harbajhan Singh is in next and survives the end of a wicket maiden.
Great effort from Panesar, who has bowled beautifully again this morning.
Good move from Cook as he welcomes Swann back into the attack. It's a good start from Swann but he does lose his length later in the over, allowing Pujara to pick up four with a powerful cut.
The roller used this morning seems to be losing its effect with Panesar finding some big turn to beat Harbhajan's outside edge twice in three balls. World class spin bowling on show from Panesar this morning and it's another maiden over.
Nice touch from Pujara to pick up a couple of runs with a late cut past Swann at slip. The 24-year-old's average has climbed to over 80 since this series has begun. England need to find an answer.
Harbhajan misses the chance to get off the mark with a low full toss but does move off zero with a push to cover. Hopeful lbw appeal from Panesar when Pujara offers his pad outside off-stump but that won't do enough from there. Pujara sneaks a single and Anderson attempts to hit the stumps. Harbhajan would have been gone there had Anderson hit the stumps.
Pujara advances down the track a couple of times in Swann's over but he can only pick out fielders. Big turn from the last ball but Pujara keeps his gloves away from the ball, maiden over.
Panesar really causing problems for Harbhajan in the over and he could have dismissed India's number nine. He catches the outside edge but Trott can't react quickly enough to take a sharp catch.
Swann finding bounce and turn throughout the over and Pujara is slightly fortunate when he prods the ball just wide of Bairstow at short leg. One single from the over, India doing their best to survive now. Signs look ominous for when England bat.
It's a maiden from Panesar to complete the first hour of play. England definitely need more wickets before lunch with this beginning to look a very good score from India. Time for a drinks break.
Harbhajan uses his wrist to full effect by clipping the ball onto the leg-side to get off strike at the start of Swann's new over. Pujara adds another single before his partner miscues a sweep shot.
Too short from Panesar as Pujara collects two runs with a whip to deep mid-wicket. Another single for Pujara in the same area, he's moved to 132 now. An inside edge for two runs from Harbhajan brings up the 300 for the hosts and he adds one more from the final ball.
Harbhajan gets outside the line of off-stump to save him when he misses a sweep against Swann. Dar makes the same decision later in the over, these appeals have been hopeful from England. Harbhajan keeps the strike with a single to deep mid-wicket.
Harbhajan has another fortunate boundary with an outside edge, beating Swann at gully. No chance of a catch there. Time for some village cricket, Harbhajan says in his mind. India's experienced spinner opens his shoulders and heaves Panesar over long-on for a massive six. Good fielding from Compton at cover keeps the same batsman to a single from the next ball before Pujara keeps the strike with a run to point.
Pujara, who has batted for over 1000 minutes in this series, gives the strike to his eccentric batting partner.
Wicket! Harbhajan (21) lbw b Swann
Harbhajan goes as he takes a couple of steps across his stumps before missing the sweep shot. It looks like the ball would have clipped leg-stump. That's Swann's 200th Test wicket, great achievement. Zaheer in next.
Zaheer does well to keep out Swann but it's England's over. Any runs now are a bonus for the hosts.
Pujara immediately gives the strike to his new partner with a single to long-on at the start of Panesar's over. Good defence shown by Zaheer and he survives the over.
Wicket! Pujara (135) st Prior b Swann
Stop the presses! Pujara is, finally, out. India's star man dances down the track but he can;t make contact with a beauty from Swann and Prior whips the bails off. Well bowled but what a superb innings once again from Pujara. Pragyan Ojha survives his first ball.
Zaheer will not go quietly. The 34-year-old finds his spot over mid-wicket to collect four runs at the start of Panesar's new over. Wow, wow, wow! Zaheer goes again and it's even bigger this time as the ball is launched high into the stands for six runs. He attempts the same shot but this time it's just a single to deep mid-wicket. Not too sure if Ojha has the same hitting ability as he plays out three dot balls. 11 runs from the over.
Wicket! Zaheer (11) c Bairstow b Swann
Swann has his fourth wicket but in very, very fortunate fashion. The ball spins a mile but it doesn't seem to touch bat or glove on its way to Bairstow at short leg. Aleem Dar disagrees and that's the end of the Indian innings.
England have done well to wrap up the innings this morning but it could have been so much better for Cook's men. Pujara's brilliance has once again frustrated England and he was well supported by Ashwin. India won't be too disappointed with that score and their spinners will be relishing the opportunity to see what they can do.
Nine wickets between Swann and Panesar probably puts to bed the argument about whether to play two spinners in India. I can't imagine England making that mistake again.
Cook and Compton now face a tricky little period of batting before lunch. India will be delighted if they can take a wicket with them to lunch.
It's a quick turnaround and the Indian players are back out on the field of play with the umpires.
Here come Cook and Compton. It will be Ashwin to bowl the first over.
The noise has increased inside the ground as the morning has progressed. Cook has plenty of company around the bat but he does well to keep out Ashwin. It's a maiden over.
It's spin from both ends as Ojha is thrown the new ball. Compton did look pretty solid early on in Ahmedabad and he's off the mark with a nudge onto the leg-side. Cook gets his first runs of the innings with a trademark cut to the cover boundary. Great shot, five runs from the over.
Compton brings his captain on strike with a clip to fine leg midway through Ashwin's over and Cook does well to push a bouncing delivery to safety. Just a single scored, one more over before lunch.
Lunch: Ojha is quite short so far and that's pretty good news for Compton. The left-arm spinner does find a better length in the over but the Somerset batsman defends well. There's one run from the over and the England pair survive.
Difficult period of play for England but they make it to lunch following an impressive morning display. Join us again at around 6.35am as we bring you coverage of the second session.
Welcome back. England fans will be desperate to see a big opening partnership. 327 may not seem a big total but on this pitch, that could be good enough for India.
We're minutes away from the resumption of play. Remember, India have picked three spinners so their over rate will be very high.
It's Zaheer who will bowl the first over after the lunch break.
Nice shape shown by Zaheer but there doesn't seem enough movement yet to trouble Compton. There is an edge but it drops safely in front of the slips. Maiden for Zaheer.
Ojha begins his spell by going around the wicket to Cook and the England skipper uses his feet nicely to loft the second ball over mid-wicket for four runs. No other runs come in the over.
Compton doesn't quite time a drive but still manages to collect a single to cover. Good over from Zaheer though despite there not seeming to be much swing about.
Ojha strays onto the pads and Compton gratefully flicks four runs to the fine leg boundary. Very full from Ojha in the over but it's the bounce that will trouble England's players.
Zaheer continues but I reckon spin will be back at both ends soon. Not too much encouragement for India's only seamer but it is a maiden over.
Ashwin is back into the attack and he does well to push Compton back. England's new boy is looking comfortable early on and has picked the length well. Maiden over.
Good shot from Cook as he gets on top of a shorter ball to pull through square leg for four runs. Zaheer trying to force Cook to play a false shot outside off-stump but the England skipper's patience is second to none.
Compton gets down on one knee to sweep a single to deep square leg and bring Cook on strike. The Essex ace gets a slight inside edge to keep himself safe from India's lbw appeals. Just a single from the over.
Zaheer begins a new over and this will more than likely be his last for a while. Compton isn't troubled by the lack of swing and picks up a single to mid-wicket.
Ashwin continues and Compton once again takes a single early in the over before Cook slices the ball over the gully area to earn four more runs. One more single comes when Cook nudges the ball off his pads.
The ball is still pretty new so not sure if the Indian spinners have got too much grip yet. It will come and it will certainly spin. England must be positive.
Wow! It's a bit of a rarity as Cook advances down the pitch to launch Ojha's first ball of a new spell over long-on for a big six. Good response from the left-arm spinner to force Cook onto the back foot. These two run well to collect two runs on the leg-side and it's eight from Ojha's over.
Good over from Ashwin, who improved his length to bring Compton onto the front foot. Decent start from the tourists.
Ojha is starting to find some bounce but he's not hitting the right areas just yet. Cook is happy to defend. Maiden over.
Slice of luck for Compton as he attempts to turn the ball onto the leg side and almost edges the ball to Sehwag at slip. He does get four runs for his trouble, though. Good over but Compton can use his pad with Ashwin bowling around the wicket. Maybe time to have a look at Harbhajan?
Ojha starts the over well but Cook uses his feet brilliantly again to find the long-on boundary with one bounce. Good reply as Cook almost offers a catch when the ball bounces out of the rough.
Compton rotates the strike well and has another single with a nudge to mid-wicket. Ashwin is floating a few outside off-stump but that kind of tactic won't trick Cook. However, Cook can't do much when one turns and bounces to just beat his outside edge.
Compton decides to copy his captain by charging down the pitch to heave four runs over long-on. He didn't get great contact but it was always safe. Compton steps back to defend later in the over and almost kicks the ball onto his own stumps. Good response from Ojha.
It's time for a drinks break.
Ashwin continues following the break but he hasn't troubled Cook too much yet. Six perfect defensive shots from the England captain and it's a maiden over.
Compton is eager to use his feet when defending and as a result, he earns two runs when the ball squirms away to third man off a thick edge. Fifty partnership for these two and it's the start England needed. Two from the over.
Ashwin deciding to bowl around the wicket to Compton but the ball hasn't done enough just yet for that to be too much of a problem. It's a decent over though and tehre's just a single scored from it.
Harbhajan gets his first bowl in his 99th Test appearance and he looks like he may get more bounce than his two fellow spinners. Cook misses out on a short ball later in the over but still manages to take a single and that's the only blemish to Harbhajan's opener.
Ashwin gets some nice bounce and Cook does well to keep the ball away from his stumps, earning a single to point in the process. Good from Compton as he pushes the ball to mid-on and rushes a single to keep the strike.
'Harby' continues and comes around the wicket to Compton, finding an inside edge too but the ball races past leg slip and travels to the fine leg boundary rope. Big turn and big bounce for Harbhajan but he can only strike Compton on the thigh pad. Intriguing battle between those two.
Ouch! Cook gets down on one knee and cracks a sweep shot straight at Pujara, who is camped in at short leg. It looks like that may have hit his ribs. Very, very painful one. The centurion goes off the field for some more treatment. If it was me, I wouldn't even come back! Superb shot from Cook later in the over as he perfectly times a nudge through the leg-side to earn four runs.
Compton picks the gap between the two close fielders on the leg-side to collect a single from the start of Harbhajan's over. Big slice of luck for Cook as he spoons the ball into the air but there's no fielder close enough to take the catch. Two runs from the over.
Ajinkyha Rahane, the substitute fielder, does brilliantly to block Cook's sweep with a brave stop at short leg. It looks as though he may get a chance later in the over too but the ball drops just short. There's one more chance for the youngster but it doesn't carry. Remarkable over, well bowled Ashwin.
Harbhajan continues but allows Cook to get off strike immediately. No more runs in the over but India beginning to build pressure.
India could do with a wicket very soon. The runs have dried up for England, though.
Wicket! Compton (29) c Sehwag b Ojha
India have the wicket they needed! Ojha returns and the ball does just enough to take the outside edge with Sehwag taking a smart catch low at his feet. Jonathan Trott is the next batsman.
Wicket maiden for Ojha, big moment in this innings.
More brilliance from Rahane as he follows Cook's sweep shot to make a great stop. Cook has a single to deep point when Harbhajan loses his length slightly.
Another sweep shot from Cook but this time it just hits Rahane at short leg. The same shot brings Cook a single before Trott is completely beaten by a beauty from Ojha.
Wicket! Trott (0) lbw b Ojha
England need to steady the ship now. Ojha beats Trott's defence and strikes him on the middle of his pad giving Aleem Dar the easiest lbw decision you will see.
Harbhajan looks in full flow now and almost catches the edge with some big bounce off the pitch. Single for Cook behind point and Pietersen is off the mark with a brilliant shot through extra cover for four runs. Five runs from the over.
Lazy in the field from India at the start of Ojha's over allows Cook to earn two runs when he really shouldn't have been able to. A single then brings Pietersen on strike and he survives the first test of left-arm spin. Four runs in the over and that's tea.
Tea: Two big wickets for India have changed the complexion of that session. Arguably, England have their two best players at the crease, though. How Pietersen plays Ojha could be crucial.
Andy Flower will be bitterly disappointed with those two wickets late in the session. Not suggesting he should be dropped but is Trott under any pressure?
England need to be positive in the final session because if they're waiting for this pitch to flatten out, they will be waiting for a long time.
The players are back out and look ready to continue following that brief break. It will be Harbhajan who bowls first.
It'll be interesting to see how Pietersen plays in this session. After a couple of scratchy shots he has four runs with a cut behind point. He follows that up with a gorgeous shot over long-on. It looks like we know how he'll play from now on.
Cook crunches a sweep against Ojha but just has a single to deep square leg and that brings Pietersen on strike. No trouble for England's number four though.
Cook is dealing in singles and immediately takes one at the start of Harbhajan's over but Pietersen hands it back two balls later. There's a big gap on the off-side later in the over and Pietersen rocks back to smash four runs to cover.
Big turn for Ojha but the ball does too much, striking Cook on his thigh pad. It's Rahane's turn to take a blow at short leg from Cook but the substitute looks fine and manages a smile. Rahane gets out of the way next ball and Cook has a single to square leg.
Ashwin is back into the attack, bowling a lovely line outside off-stump but Cook's in such good form and refuses to play a false shot. Two singles from the over, this quiet spell is good for England.
Vintage Pietersen as he defends a couple of balls before storming down the pitch and driving powerfully through extra cover for four runs. Yuvraj has chance of a run out when Pietersen takes a quick single but he can't keep hold of the ball. 100 is up for the tourists.
There's a fumble from Tendulkar at point when Pietersen cuts in the air but it's safe and there's four runs for England's number four. A single brings Cook on strike and that's the captain's half century with a nudge onto the leg-side. Another vital innings from the left-hander, seven runs from the over.
Harbhajan does well in the deep to stop Pietersen reaching another boundary with a typically expansive cut shot. Three runs are followed by a swept single for Cook. Pietersen has reached 31 at almost a run-a-ball.
Ashwin gets one to explode off the pitch but there's no edge from Cook, signs of frustration from India. Even more despair when Cook's spoons a sweep into the air and the ball drops safely. Ashwin beats the edge once more, superb over.
Ojha finds a genuine edge when Pietersen lunges forward but the ball is inches from carrying to Sehwag at slip. England's rough diamond takes advantage with a superb strike straight over the bowler's head for four runs.
Cook looks more comfortable following those scary moments in Ashwin's last over. He somehow picks up four runs with a mistimed pull shot but that's the way it goes when you're in the form that he is in. It's been a superb session of Test cricket so far.
Pietersen has picked length very well since arriving at the crease and the pace of these two means he picks up three with a cut shot. Cook gives the strike back to his partner and Pietersen is then beaten by a delivery that bounces close to his shoulder from Ojha.
Ashwin continues and is greeted by a familiar sight, a sweep shot from Cook for a single. Couple of hopeful appeals for lbw against Pietersen follow but there's not much going for those shouts.
Very good from Cook as he sweeps Ojha for four runs behind square. That shot seems relatively risk free for the England skipper. Now I've said that, expect him to get out the next time he plays it. Pietersen moves into the forties with a clip to fine leg. Seven runs from the over.
Cook down on one knee to sweep four runs to fine leg and he's moved to 70 now. If these two can bat until the close of play, England will be in a very good position.
Pietersen is off strike at the start of Ojha's new over and Cook gives it back by playing a certain shot, guess which one? Sweep city in Mumbai today. Time for a drink.
Harbhajan continues after the break and Cook immediately sneaks a single on the off-side. There's still some bounce on this pitch for the spinners but Pietersen negotiates the threat well. Two runs in the over, don't be surprised if Zaheer is given a bowl soon. It's worth a try from Dhoni to see if there's any reverse swing.
It's not Zaheer yet as Ashwin starts a new spell from the other end. Pietersen gets a single with a reverse sweep and Cook takes one with a more conventional version of the shot. Ashwin thinks he has Pietersen caught at leg slip but there's no inside edge. Four runs from the over.
Pietersen gets a lifeline when he scoops the ball just short of Gambhir at short mid-wicket. Rahane takes yet another blow at short leg, this time on the arm from Pietersen. That's a painful one. Six runs come from the over.
Pietersen pulls away and catches the ball due to some distraction behind Ashwin's arm. Four runs in front of square on the off-side bring up Pietersen's half century, very good innings from the number four. Cook survives an lbw appeal when he gets just outisde the line of off-stump. Five runs from the over and these two are looking good with around 40 minutes left in the day.
Pietersen gets a single at the start of Harbhajan's over. Runs are on offer as Cook walks a single with a cut shot to deep cover. India have taken their foot of the gas a touch in this session.
Ashwin gets some big deviation to beat the shoulder of Cook's bat to send a warning to the England duo. Too full from Ashwin and Cook paddle sweeps for two to fine leg before picking up a single to deep cover.
Zaaher is on for a final burst before the end of the day. I think this could be a good move from Dhoni. Good line from the 34-year-old but there's not enough movement to worry Cook at this stage of his innings.
Harbhajan begins a new spell but his gift of a full toss i wasted by Pietersen. Good fielding from Kohli at leg slip to block Pietersen's sweep shot going for four. Huge spin from Harbhajan later in the over but it does too much to be considered for lbw. One single from the over.
Good fielding keeps Pietersen and Cook to just singles at the start of Zaheer's new over. However, Pietersen does find the boundary rope with a flick off his pads to bring up the century partnership between these two.
Harbhajan wants lbw when Cook gets his sweep shot wrong. It's difficult to tell if there was an inside edge but Aleem Dar shakes his head. Close for India, very close. Cook finds a single at mid-wicket and the pace of Pietersen brings two runs with a cut to cover. An edge to third man brings the returning batsman two more.
Zaheer, accurate as ever, catches Cook's outside edge but the ball drops well short of first slip. England are fighting admirably at the moment. Maiden over.
Dhoni attempting to play on Pietersen's weakness by bringing Ojha back for a final spell. Good defence shown from England's number four and there's probably just one more over left in the day.
It's Harbhajan who comes back into the attack to replace Zaheer. There's time for one more bit of drama as a Cook flashes an edge straight at Sehwag's boot at slip. No chance of a catch really. Cook blocks the final ball of the day and that's a very good session for England.
Close of play: Finally, England fans have something to shout about on this series. Cook and Pietersen have been superb during this partnership and at this point, the tourists are in a brilliant position.
India are sure to come back strongly tomorrow and England will continue to be tested by the trio of spinners on show. Return tomorrow to see how the two sides perform on day three as this fascinating game begins to take shape. Thanks for joining me today, goodbye.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
