England batsman Zak Crawley hailed "phenomenal" Joe Root after the former captain hit a century on day one of the Fourth Test against India.

The tourists had a tricky start to proceedings in Ranchi slumping to 112-5 before Root and Ben Foakes shared a 113-run partnership.

Root, 33, ended the day unbeaten on 106 to help Ben Stokes' men close on 302-7.

Crawley, who was dismissed for 42 by debutant Akash Deep, said: "We're so happy for him and we never doubted him.

"If anything, we know that when he's got a couple of low scores he's even more likely to get a big one and we expected that from him.

"He's phenomenal, one of if not the best we've ever had playing for England.

"The boys played unbelievably in the middle session and then Joe got very good support from Tom [Hartley] and Ollie [Robinson] as well.

"I said beforehand that if we get 280-300, we're in a very good position so I stand by that — we are ahead of the game."

Root's century was the slowest recorded in the Bazball era but it was much needed with Brendon McCullum's side trailing the series 2-1.

It also followed a run of low scores for the Yorkshireman, whose previous ton came against Australia last June at Edgbaston.

He will begin day two alongside Ollie Robinson, who added 57 for the eighth wicket with Root before the close of play.

For the hosts, Deep ended with figures of 3-70 while fellow seamer Mohammed Siraj took 2-60.