India seized control of the second test after their spinners wreaked havoc on a dustbowl and skittled out England for 134 at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The hosts finished day two on 54/1 for an overall lead of 249 runs on a deteriorating track.
Rohit Sharma, who made a superb 161 in the first innings, was unbeaten on 25 at the close with Cheteshwar Pujara on seven.
Earlier, Moeen Ali and Olly Stone split the last four Indian wickets as the hosts added 29 runs to their overnight score before being all out for 329 in their first innings.
Rishabh Pant was left stranded on 58 not out, having hit three sixes in his 77-ball blitz.
When they returned, India unleashed their three-pronged spin attack as they looked to level the series at 1-1.
On a pitch where the ball was kicking up dust, England's reply got off to a woeful start as they lost four wickets before lunch.
Ishant Sharma trapped Rory Burns lbw for a duck and Dom Sibley fell for 16 after India successfully reviewed a not-out decision.
Debutant Axar Patel dealt the biggest blow by dismissing Joe Root for six to claim his maiden test wicket.
The England captain, whose proficiency against spin would have been crucial on this pitch, fluffed his sweep shot offering a top-edge to Ravichandran Ashwin at short fine-leg.
The touring side's middle-order caved in after the interval.
Ashwin claimed the important wicket of Ben Stokes, dismissing the all-rounder bowled for 18.
India did not feel the need to use second seamer Mohammed Siraj until the 39th over.
Finally pressed into the attack, Siraj ended Ollie Pope's promising knock of 22 with his first delivery.
Ben Foakes, playing his first match of the four-test series, top-scored with an unbeaten 42 as England avoided the follow-on but conceded a first-innings lead of 195 runs.
Ashwin returned figures of 5/43 while Ishant and Patel claimed two wickets apiece.
"Getting Joe Root as first test wicket must have been really special for him," Ashwin said of left-arm spinner Patel who also dismissed Moeen.
"It was a very important wicket in the context of where the game stands and also Moeen Ali. Those were good snares for a fellow's first game."
England assistant coach Graham Thorpe acknowledged his side would need a special effort to deny India victory.
"We need something very, very special to happen tomorrow and somebody do something amazing with the bat," Thorpe said.
"We knew we were going to have some tough times and the important thing is the dressing-room doesn't get too affected by today."
Reuters.
