Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow led hosts to a brilliant fightback as they took firm control at the end of Day 4 of the ongoing fifth rescheduled test at Birmingham on Monday.
Earlier resuming at an overnight score of 125/3, the pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant added 28 more runs before the former cut Stuart Broad straight to Lees at backward point for a well made 66.
Shreyas Iyer (19) fell again into the short ball trap, pulling Matthew Potts straight to James Anderson at midwicket.
Wicket keeper Pant (57) perished to Jack Leach, giving a catch to Root at slip while attempting a reverse sweep.
England skipper Ben Stokes claimed the final three wickets as England restricted to India for 245, with an overall lead of 377.
For England, all rounder Ben Stokes claimed 4/33, while Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts claimed two wickets each.
Chasing 378, openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley got England off to a rollicking start. The duo added 107 runs for the opening wicket before the latter offered no stroke from Jasprit Bumrah and was bowled for 46.
Indian spearhead Bumrah struck again with the very first delivery after tea, forcing Ollie Pope to nick at a shortish one outside off to wicket keeper Pant for a duck.
The hosts were in further trouble when the dangerous looking Alex Lees (56) was run out following a mix up with Root, as England from 107/0 slumped to 109/3.
However the pair of former skipper Joe Root along with Bairstow featured in an unbroken 150 run partnership for the fourth wicket as England ended Day 4 at 259/3 at stumps, still requiring a further 119 runs.
Stumps at the end of Day 4
England 284 and 259 for 3 (Root 76*, Bairstow 72*) need another 119 runs to beat India 416 and 245 (Pujara 66, Pant 57, Stokes 4-33)