India vs England: Ben Duckett says the tourists are in a strong position in the first Test

Opener Ben Duckett said England are in a “strong position” in the first Test against India despite the hosts' strong finish on day one.

England recovered from 60-3 and 137-6 to reach 246, a total that looked competitive in Hyderabad, only for India to race to 119-1.

“We're very happy to walk away for what we got,” Duckett told BBC Sport.

“Hopefully we can take two or three wickets early [on day two] “And put them under pressure.”

“We are in a strong position, regardless of them being only one point behind,” the left-hander added.

England won the deciding toss, with Duckett and Zak Crawley adding 41 in just eight overs against some wayward Indian bowling.

But on a pitch that offered plenty of innings – both sides opted for three specialist spinners – the game changed when India introduced their slow bowlers.

With India's bowlers sharing eight wickets, England needed 70 from captain Ben Stokes, who marshaled the tail to ensure the tourists added 109 in their last four partnerships.

After batting cautiously in the first part of his innings, Stokes took 42 runs off the last 29 balls before being dismissed, including three sixes.

“He's the best in the world in those situations,” said Duckett, who just turned 35. “The way he absorbs pressure early, trusts his defence, and then when we're eight or nine down, he slips away from us like he does all the time.” “That could be a game-winning run for us.”

When India came to bat, it put England's total into context, thanks to opener Yahsasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 76 off 70 balls.

Jaiswal's first delivery off left-arm spinner Tom Hartley in Test cricket for six, with the debutant, bowled from second during the innings, conceding 63 runs from nine overs.

“We support Tommy,” Duckett said. “Stokesy gave him nine overs to bowl when other captains might take him off after two overs, and then he would hide away for the rest of the match.”

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets, praised the left-hander Jaiswal.

The 22-year-old made his second half-century to add to the hundred he made in his first five Tests.

“That's the beauty of someone who comes in and plays at this level, he has no baggage,” Ashwin told TNT Sports. “It's been a great start to his first-class career.

“He took to Test cricket like a duck to water and made no mistake. He has a carefree style and I certainly enjoyed watching some of the shots he played.”

Like Duckett, Ashwin agreed that England's total was on par.

“240 was a competitive total, that's what we felt,” said Ashwin, who moved on to 493 Test wickets. “We probably had 20 or 30 points more than we would have liked to concede.

“The start we gave us in the opener was fantastic. If someone can come on tomorrow and give us a century, we will be in very good stead.”

India have not lost a home Test series since 2012, when Alastair Cook's England won 2-1.

Former all-rounder Stephen Finn, part of the England squad on that tour, believes the opening day of this series belonged to India.

“There was a glimmer of hope with the bat – the opening partnership between Duckett, Crawley and Ben Stokes' fifty.

“Stokes looked comfortable and played with ease. He was more confident as the innings went on.

“But Jaiswal's attack on Hartley meant India finished the day in a very good position on a surface that will be difficult to overcome.”