The 39-year-old Anderson (13.4-7-15-2) swung it in England's favour with successive precision deliveries that got Cheteshwar Pujara (4) and Virat Kohli (0) as India from 97 for no loss slumped to 112 for four in a space of less than six overs.
Ashwin, who picked up six wickets for Surrey in his last first-class game, was on Wednesday excluded for the first Test against England, as India went in with four fast bowlers.
Five of England's top six batsmen fell to deliveries that came in. Shami scalped three of those top six, and all were on those that came in, including the wicket of Dan Lawrence who was caught down the leg-side.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami took seven wickets between them, while Shardul Thakur took the prized scalp of English skipper Joe Root after earning a surprise call this morning.
Mohammed Shami stressed that the batsmen will need to focus in the first hour.
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Virat Kohli said that players at this level are aware of their responsibilities and undue criticism doesn't bother them, least of all Pujara.
Michael Vaughan claims that the current England team is weaker in the absence of Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer as he put India under a lot of pressure to win the series.
Seasoned campaigners like Root and star all-rounder Ben Stokes felt it was one of the toughest conditions to play in, according to Pope.