Root slammed 128 not out to take England to 263/3 at stumps on Day 1.
The visitors decided to bat on a seemingly easy pitch after winning the toss. They started off well with a sensible partnership between Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. But England lost two quick wickets on the score of 63 runs.
Amid the tough situation, Root once showed his class and came out with flying colours. The right-hander, who led England to a 2-0 series win in Sri Lanka with scores of 228 and 186 last month, slammed 128 not out to take England to 263/3 at stumps on Day 1.
WATCH: Virat Kohli comes to aid of a cramping Joe Root
Addressing the media after day’s play, the England captain said he would be ready for more on Day 2.
“Yeah, I am ready for more tomorrow…hopefully get back, a bit frustrating, very kind of Virat (Kohli) to help me out (with cramps), good sportsmanship from him…It’s just like a long day and then after a few overs I get some fluids and cooled down,” Root said at the virtual press conference, as quoted by PTI.
“We have got to look and try and get as many as we can 600-700 if we can, really trying to make most of the first innings make it good and those four overs trying to work quickly.
“So if we can bat into whole of tomorrow or maybe day three then things could speed up quite quickly for us and you never know what can happen for that point onwards…”
During his knock, Root countered the Indian spinners brilliantly as he displayed a range of sweep shots and late cuts. He shared a 200-run stand for the third wicket with Sibley (87) and also became the 9th batsman to hit a ton in his 100th Test.
Comparing the conditions and challenges of India and Sri Lanka, Root said: “Different challenges, I think in Sri Lanka, there was obviously a little bit more lateral moment, more spin, while here it was more trying to counter the bounce initially against the spinners and obviously challenging reverse swing from the seamers. So it was very different and it’s always difficult to try put two against each other.”
He also highlighted the importance of carrying the good show on Day 2 in Chennai.
“Playing the 100th Test was special and I mean coming in with some good form and I need to make sure I cash in on…Over the course of my career I’ve not always gone to make really big scores, so for me to be going and doing that currently is really pleasing…
“And I keep getting myself in positions to make big hundreds and I have got to keep taking them and we’re going to win more games if I’m doing that and so hopefully I can kick on tomorrow personally but most importantly we can have a bat tomorrow and we can be in a strong position in this game.”
(With PTI inputs)