India's fielding coach Trevor Penney is confident his side can mount a fight-back on the third day of the third Test after being run ragged by England's batsmen at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

"If we can get three or four wickets early maybe it's evens-stevens after the first innings. So we are still confident, we just need a couple of breakthroughs," Penny said at the end of the second day's play during which England reached 216/1 in response to India's 316 in their first innings.

The Zimbabwean admitted though that England captain - who is on an unbeaten 136 - will be the key wicket on the third morning.

"Cook's a key one. He is in prime form, he has really played well in the last three weeks. Try and get him and the match could be even-stevens. It's wide open," he continued.

"He's at the top of his game. Ultra confident. And he's getting the breaks, a dropped catch or an lbw or something in these last three games.

"And he goes on to get the big ones, that's his strength. He's right up there."

Despite England's seemingly dominant overnight position, Penney doesn't believe that India's proud home record is under threat.

"Definitely not. Just two weeks ago, we won convincingly. Last week we had everything in our favour after day one but let it slip, with a very good innings by Kevin Pietersen. This match, maybe we should have got more runs in the first innings but tomorrow is a new day."

The former Warwickshire batsman added that, while the wicket is good, there is something in it for the bowlers too.

"The wicket's still the same. It's still very good. I think in the middle session yesterday (James) Anderson reversed the ball very well. He swung it both ways and with the spinner bowling well at the other end, they had a very good middle period which knocked us back a little."

"The ball should do the same thing, they just swung it a little bit more than us."