The first Test between India and England is primed to be an exciting affair as England captain Joe Root struck a magnificent century to set the tone for the match. Root, unbeaten on 128, towards the fag end of the innings, dispatched the ball over the boundary ropes to record his first maximum of the match.

However, soon after he swept the ball over mid-on, he fell down on the ground with a cramp. The England cricket team physio quickly ran out to attend to the captain. But before he got there, it was Kohli who helped Root out with stretching his leg.

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England ended Day 1 on 263/3 after Dom Sibley fell to pacer Jasprit Bumrah for 87 in the final over of the day. England elected to bat after winning the toss.

Root battled cramped in the final session as he stitched together a behemoth 200-run partnership with Sibley.

Root made his Test debut in India in 2012 and his century comes on the back of match-winning knocks of 228 and 186 in Sri Lanka.

Friday’s effort was his third successive and 20th Test ton.

The 30-year-old handled the spinners with aplomb as he swept — and reverse swept — to precision in his 197-ball knock. He struck 14 fours and a six.

“It’s (the leg) feeling alright, got a bit cramped there towards the end. I have to get some fluids in and I could do that overnight. Really pleased with the position we have got ourselves into, bit of a shame to lose Dom (Sibley) towards the end. We have to make use of a strong first day,” Root said after the match.

“To get a hundred in my 100th Test is special but I hope there is more to come tomorrow and it helps to put up a substantial first innings total. It was actually quite a nice day today, nice breeze throughout. I don’t think I took enough fluids today. Got to make up for it, eat and rest well tonight,” the right-handed batsman added.

The series will decide who plays New Zealand in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship.