Ravichandran Ashwin rattled England's top order with three wickets to leave them reeling on 78 for four at stumps on day three of the third Test on Monday, still trailing India by 56.

The visitors had earlier conceded a 134-run first-innings lead after India's lower-order batsmen gave the hosts control of the game in Mohali.

At close of play Joe Root (36) and nightwatchman Gareth Batty (0) were at the crease.

Ashwin drew first blood, getting England skipper Alastair Cook bowled for 12.

The England skipper had been living dangerously, with two leg-before calls against him going for reviews, first by India and then by the batsman himself. But he survived only to see his stumps shattered later on.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ENGLAND: First innings 283

INDIA: First innings 417 (Patel 42, Pujara 51, Kohli 62, Ashwin 72, Jadeja 90, Yadav 55; Rashid 4-118, Stokes 5-73)

ENGLAND: Second innings 78 for 4 (Root 36 not out, Bairstow 15; Ashwin 3-19)