Root was batting on 128 at stumps after stitching 200 runs together with opener Dominic Sibley (87) for the third wicket. The day's play ended as soon as Sibley was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah.

The England captain was handed the special cap by star all-rounder Stokes prior to the start of the Test at the M A Chidambaram stadium.

England captain Joe Root on Friday became the 15th cricketer from the country to represent the national side in 100 Test matches.

India vs England 1st Test Day 1: Find full details on when and where to watch Ind vs Eng LIVE, India vs England 1st Test, Day 1 in India.

International cricket returns to India after a year-long COVID-19 break and it couldn't have been bigger than a series against a world-class side which is led by a modern day great in Joe Root.

Root, who is part of the Big Four also comprising Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith, said he looks to learn from these leading players.

Rajkot-born Pujara proved to be Australia’s nemesis yet again in the recent four-match series Down Under, scoring three half-centuries but more importantly consuming over 900 balls.

After Graham Gooch, who was one of the finest exponents of sweep shot against Asian spinners, current skipper Root -- with scores of 228 and 186 in Sri Lanka -- has shown his mastery on low and slow tracks.

Root had scored a bulk of his runs in Sri Lanka with the sweep shot on his way to 426 runs in two Tests that helped England beat the hosts 2-0 in the Test series.

England captain Joe Root has said that many teams will take "huge confidence" from India's win in Australia, as they aim to win away from home.

Joe Root made his Test debut against India in 2012, and in an interview with ECB, described the 'surreal' moment.

Root will be appearing in his 100 Test when he leads England in the series-opening match against India from Friday.

The recent win does make India the outright favourites, but England too are heading into the contest on the back of a 2-0 cleansweep in Sri Lanka with their skipper Joe Root in destructive form.

Root, who made his debut against India in Nagpur in 2012, will play his 100th game against same opposition at the Chepauk from February 5.

Root, whose next assignment is the four-Test series India starting February 5, also became the fourth-highest run-getter in Test cricket for England and the first ever captain to hit two double-hundreds.

Ahead of the series starting February 5 in Chennai, Root has described India as "the best team of the world in their own conditions".

Root was the second-highest run-getter behind Virat Kohli the last time England toured India, in 2016-17. His 491 runs in five Tests at 49.1 was behind Kohli's 655.

With the 2-0 win, England are now the most successful visiting team in Sri Lanka and have equalled India's tally for most matches won by a visiting team in Sri Lanka. 

After notching up a double century in the series opener, Root continued his brilliant run by hitting 186 in the second Test to lift his side from a spot of bother.

The right-handed batsman has amassed 8,238 Test runs in 180 innings he has played so far and is fourth on the list of leading run-getters for England