Nitish Kumar Reddy celebrates with team-mates after dismissing Ben Duckett.
Credit: Reuters Photo
England reached 83 for two at lunch after opting to bat first on the opening day of the third Test match of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy at Lord's Cricket Ground.
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley had put on 43 for the opening wicket when Nitish Kumar Reddy removed them in quick succession in his first over to give a jolt for England in the first session.
After the drinks break, the first breakthrough was a rather lucky one with Duckett (23) gloving a short ball on the leg side to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Ollie Pope could have been dismissed in the very next ball, but Gill could not latch on to a tough chance at gully.
Two balls later Crawley (18) was done in by a peach of a delivery from Reddy as he was caught behind by Pant.
However Joe Root (24 not out) and Pope (12 not out) added an unbroken 39 for the third wicket to help England recover from Reddy's double blow.
Root used his experience to work the ball around and he and Pope took England through without further damage.
Earlier, England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to take first use of the wicket.
In the Bazball era, it is only for the second time that Stokes opted to bat in a home game.
Both the teams made a change each from the previous Test at Edgbaston.
India brought back paceman Jasprit Bumrah, the world's top-ranked bowler who was rested for the second Test as he manages a back injury, to replace Prasidh Krishna.
England recalled fast bowler Jofra Archer for his first Test appearance in more than four years in place of Josh Tongue.
The five-match series is currently perched at 1-1. India's crushing 336-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston levelled the series after England won the first match at Headingley by five wickets.
(With inputs from Agencies)