England had taken a slender 13-run first-innings lead despite Virat Kohli’s masterly 149, but their hopes of placing a big target in front of India were dashed by Sharma, who returned 5-51, and the other Indian bowlers. However, chasing 194, India have slipped to 110-5, and have Kohli on 43 and Dinesh Karthik on 18 in the middle.

It’s not a lot of runs, and India will back Kohli and Karthik to do a large chunk of the job for them.

“But in the bowling meeting, the bowling coach [B Arun] told me to straightaway come round the stumps, because the batsman finds it tough to play from that angle. When my ball starts to swing, it is difficult for left-handed batsmen.”

It certainly proved difficult for Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad, all left-handers who fell to Sharma on the day.

Part of Sharma’s impressive show can also be put down to his experience playing with Sussex in the county circuit over the past few months.

“Playing for Sussex, bowling with the Dukes ball – the good thing was I had overs behind me. I played four [first-class] matches for Sussex, but I bowled nearly 200-250 overs [114.3] … I played one-dayers too,” he agreed.