This time yesterday morning it all looked so rosy for England but after a disastrous day, Ben Stokes and his side now stand firmly on the precipice.
India resume this morning on 40/0, requiring just 152 more to wrap up the Test match and the series. How different it could have been.
England had the chance to put this game out of sight with the bat on day three but a meek performance saw them bowled out for 145 – putting them just 190 runs ahead in Ranchi.
What followed was perhaps England’s worst period with the ball of the series.
WIth a volley of loose deliveries punished by Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, as the India openers were given a headstart in their innings rather than the tough 30 minutes at the day that Engldn were hoping for.
Should Stokes be able pull this one out the fire, it would surely rank as his finest victory as captain but early wickets will be the key. There is some demons on this pitch as England found out yesterday but young spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir must get it right or England’s likely fate will soon become terminal.