A debut century from Keaton Jennings meant that England, who included Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball for his second Test appearance, enjoyed a productive opening day in Mumbai.
Jennings’ knock of 112, together with a half-century from Mooen Ali and a sprightly half-century from Alastair Cook, helped the tourists close on 288-5.
Ravi Ashwin took 4-75 for India, who at one stage hit-back with three wickets for 19 runs, after England had initially romped to 230-2.
The game fell too early for Stuart Broad, who was still suffering from the foot injury he picked up in Visakhapatnam and missed out on featuring in the match, as England won the toss and elected to bat.
Jennings, who was called up via the England Lions following the hand injury sustained by Haseeb Hameed, opted to be positive on debut and – after a few early flutters – glided past 50 midway through the opening session.
He and Cook took the score to 99 before the fall of the first wicket, when the captain was stumped for just the fourth time in his Test career off a tricky delivery from Ravindra Jadeja.
The tourists headed into lunch on top with the score at 117-1 and Jennings unbeaten on 65.
England has added another 19 runs when Root nicked an Ashwin delivery into the waiting hands of Kohli at slip. His dismissal, for 21, left his side 136-2.
A bizarre period of play followed as umpire Paul Reiffel, who enjoyed a season with Nottinghamshire as a player back in 2000, took a stray ball to the head and was replaced by third umpire Marais Erasmus.
Jennings was unflustered by the delay and soon brought up three figures with a reverse-sweep off Jayant.
The landmark arrived off 186 balls, making Jennings the fourth English batsman in history to make a ton on the first day of a debut Test.
The tourists were 196-2 at tea, shortly after which Moeen brought up his half-century from 102 balls.
It had been a fluent performance from the Worcestershire man, but an attempted slog sweep at Ashwin brought his demise on 50.
The Indian off-spinner then quickly accounted for Jennings and Ashwin, meaning 230-2 had rapidly become 249-5.
Ben Stokes (25*) and Jos Buttler (18*), however, manfully battled the Indian bowlers – and their own attacking instincts – to ensure no further damage before the close.
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