Cook finally nicked one just shy of his 150 and deservedly had The Oval crowd on its feet to applaud him off the field following his fantastic final score.
The former England captain in the process overtook Kumar Sangakkara into fifth place in the all-time list of Test run scorers.
He is the highest-scoring opener and, now, tops the pile for left-handers, too.
It is, of course, a remarkable achievement and he deserved every single one of the standing ovations he received throughout the day. Yes, all of them.
India recognised it too and so when Rishabh Pant held on to Cook's edge, the entire team rushed over to congratulate him and shake his hand.
And it was a good day for current skipper Joe Root too, reaching three figures but going cheaply for 125 slashing to the boundary as Hanuma Vihari suddenly found himself on a hat-trick after his first two Test wickets on debut.
England fell from 321-2 to 356-6 with Jonny Bairstow was clean bowled and and Jos Buttler going for a duck, before Ben Stokes fell for a decent knock of 37.
And when Sam Curran topped one and was caught on 21, Root declared with his side 423-8, setting India 464 to win.
The tourists endured the worst-possible start, losing three early wickets.
Shikhar Darwan was trapped plumb lbw by James Anderson with his ninth delivery of the innings and three balls later Cheteshwar Pujara was heading back to the pavilion. Anderson again. Leg before again.
It was the Burnley Express' 563rd Test wicket, placing him level with world-record holder Glenn McGrath for dismissals by a seamer.
Stuart Broad got in on the act, too, and took the vital wicket of Virat Kohli for a duck as the Indian captain swiped at a wide one outside leg stump. Easy pickings for Bairstow behind.
It reduced the visitors to 2-3 off just 3.2 overs. And although KL Rahul, who closed four off his half-century, and Ajinkya Rahane batted through until stumps with India 58-3, England know they should be able to complete the job on the final day.
Cook almost took a catch at silly point on the very final delivery of the day as his name was chorused out across The Oval.
The day, so rightfully, belonged to the 33-year-old and he did not even try to conceal his beaming smile as he led the teams off the field at the end of it.
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