Ashley Giles suggested his Test-best figures, which moved England into a healthy position in the second Test, were a high point of his career.
England lead by 131 runs after the third day at Motera despite the brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar.
Giles, in his comeback match after a persistent Achilles injury blighted most of his year, sliced through the tail to take the last four wickets - including a spell of three in consecutive overs.
It provided him with his best-ever Test figures of five for 67, from 43.3 overs, as India were dismissed for 291.
The Warwickshire left-arm spinner, who took an England record 17 wickets in Pakistan last winter, came to the fore after Tendulkar's dismissal for 103 pre-empted the collapse of the last six wickets for 80.
"It's been a fantastic day for me and the team. I think we have shown a lot of spirit to come back after the first Test defeat.
"Now we have to play well to set up a game for the last day."
Aside from Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, last out for 75, India were second best for a second consecutive day.
After scoring his 27th Test hundred - he is now third-equal in the all-time list - Tendulkar admitted: "We didn't have a big partnership apart from mine with Laxman and they are important in this game.
PA