The seasoned duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara found much-needed runs from their bats to rescue India from a perilous position and give their team a fighting chance in the second Test against England here on Sunday.

With their in-form openers and skipper Virat Kohli back in the hut at 55 for three and India effectively ahead by only 28 runs, the visitors stared at a batting collapse considering the prolonged struggles of the middle-order and their long tail.