India on front foot in Bangalore
England were facing another major battle to restrict India's free-scoring top order despite the early scalp of Sachin Tendulkar in the fourth one-day international.
Deciding to bowl first in cloudy conditions, the tourists had hoped to make early inroads in a match they must win if they are to remain competitive in the seven-match series.
They claimed the early breakthrough with Tendulkar falling in the eighth over when he was bowled by Stuart Broad as India advanced to 82 for one after 14 overs when rain halted play.
India signalled their intentions from the start of the innings with Virender Sehwag smashing the first ball of the day from James Anderson over the top of point for a boundary.
He continued to dominate the 38-run opening stand with Tendulkar, who has rested since the Test series victory over Australia, looking short of match practice.
Sehwag was fortunate to survive on 16 when he got an edge to an attempted drive off Broad which flew past wicketkeeper Matt Prior to the boundary without him reacting.
Broad immediately complained about the footholes from his end and after Tendulkar cut the second of his two boundaries in his next over, the umpires agreed to let groundstaff come on and repair them with sand.
It was that five-minute delay which broke Tendulkar's concentration and attempting to drive the next delivery, had his off-stump knocked back by a relieved Broad, who was forced off the field for treatment after his next over.
But his demise had little impact on India's progress with Gambhir matching Sehwag's boundary spree to leave England captain Pietersen, who had named an unchanged side, once again scratching his head in search of a breakthrough.
