England were 92 for four at lunch on the opening day of the third Test against India in Mohali on Saturday.
Jonny Bairstow on 20 and Ben Stokes on five were at the crease after the visitors, who trail the five-match series 1-0, elected to bat first.
England skipper Alastair Cook scored 27 as Indian bowlers Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jayant Yadav claimed a wicket each.