Ravindra Jadeja puts India in command of third Test

Ravindra Jadeja scored a decisive 170-ball 90 - his highest Test score - to help India post a sizeable 417 in reply to England's 283-run first innings total on the third day of the third Test in Mohali on Monday.

In the first session of the day, India stretched their lead to 71, with three wickets in hand. No visiting side has ever won a Test in India after falling behind by more than 65 in the first innings. Jadeja and Jayant Yadav, with an 80-run stand for the eighth wicket, handed their side a huge advantage with two days left in the Test.

Jadeja, with three triple hundreds in first-class cricket, has till now failed to impress with the bat in Tests, but his innings in Mohali helped dispel any doubts of his capabilities with the bat.

The hosts had posted an overnight score of 271 for 6, with R Ashwin scoring yet another 50, his eighth in Tests, but his dismissal early on Monday put the onus on Jadeja to add to England's woes. He began the day cautiously, but then switched gears after lunch and thumped Chris Woakes for four boundaries in an over.

England hoped that Jadeja's attacking intent would lead to an error in judgment and they were right as he miscued a hoick, off Adil Rashid to long on. India stood at 381 for 8 at that stage. The last three batsmen managed to add 36 runs before the innings ended. It's the first time ever that three India players batting at 7 or lower have got fifties. Ben Stokes was the pick of England's bowlers with 5 for 73.

England, in the final session of the day, slumped, as Ashwin left tore through their top order. He claimed Cook, Moeen Ali and on the stroke of stumps, Stokes, while Jayant accounted for first-innings hero Jonny Bairstow. The tourists still trail by 56 runs with six wickets remaining.