The two captains in this series are unquestionably among the best batsmen of their era, yet the returns of Root and Kohli after three matches could scarcely be more different
"Only if we back them in such a way that they can improve, they will improve faster. But if you are going to find those loopholes and faults, cricketers are going to take that much longer.
Pant quickly moved from his overnight 33 to raise his sixth Test fifty, hitting two fours and two big sixes to bring back to life the crowd -- the first time fans have been back in an Indian stadium in more than a year.
In-form Root remains key to England with 684 runs in his last three Tests, including match-winning monster scores of 228 and 186 in the 2-0 Test sweep in Sri Lanka.
Left-hander Sundar, who made his debut in the fourth Test of India's historic win in Australia last month, raised his second successive Test fifty with a boundary off Leach.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant starred with a swashbuckling 89 not out as the injury-depleted visitors overhauled the 328-run target with three overs to go, winning by three wickets.
It was a determined and crucial knock against a world-class attack by the mild-mannered 32-year-old, who assumed the captaincy from Virat Kohli after he returned home for the birth of his first child.