England will have to claim 286 runs to win the second one-day international of the series against India.
The hosts, who lost the first ODI by nine runs, had a shaky start at the crease in Kochi after Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed by Steven Finn on four runs.
Jade Dernbach also claimed a wicket by bowling Gautam Gambhir for eight, which put the hosts on the back foot and England looked in control on the pitch but Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh steadied their side's innings by snatching 37 and 32 runs respectively.
Despite a stuttered start, Suresh Raina was able to reach a half-century before getting sent back to the pavilion and MS Dhoni looked comfortable at the crease and launched a fightback to claim 72 runs for India before getting caught out by Joe Root from a Dernbach bowl.
Dernbach and Finn took two wickets apiece, while Chris Woakes and James Tredwell nabbed one each.
