Root, who had posted his 19th career test hundred before lunch, also passed Kevin Pietersen’s tally of 8,181 test runs to become England’s fifth highest run getter in the five-day format.
Former England captain Alastair Cook is the all-time highest run-getter for England.
The teams are expected to reach Chennai by January 27 and undergo testing before entering the bio-bubble.
An injury-hit India, who were also missing some star players like skipper Virat Kohli, registered a three-wicket win in the series-deciding fourth Test against Australia.
Resuming on 38/3 on Day Five, wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow and debutant Danial Lawrence carried England to their 76-run target inside 35 minutes on the final morning of the Test match.
Root’s 228 had provided England a strong total of 421 and a meaningful first innings lead of 286, but Thirimanne stood firm for two sessions to remain unbeaten on 76 off 189 balls and carried Sri Lanka to 156-2 at stumps.
Root ended his long wait for a hundred with the addition of an 18th Test century to his name and later converted it to a well-composed 228 off 321 balls laced with 18 fours and a six in England's first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle.
England resumed at the overnight score of 127 for two and lost the wicket of Jonny Bairstow early with the addition of just four runs.
England are embarking on a three-month tour of the subcontinent, starting with two Tests in Sri Lanka, which were supposed to be held last March and followed by a full-fledged series in India.
England had curtailed their tour of South Africa recently with the ODI series being called following some positive cases among South African players.
While Joe Root called Virat Kohli 'most complete player' across formats, he named teammate Jos Buttler as the most complete white-ball batsman.
Joe Root has said that he is determined to make a comeback to the England T20I side ahead of the 2021 World Cup in India.
According to Yorkshire Cricket's official website, Root has asked the England management to allow him to get some game time in T20 cricket, a format he is not an automatic choice for in international cricket.
In his post-match press conference on Monday, the 29-year-old said authorities could consider using a brighter red ball, bringing forward the start time and improving floodlights.
England turned around a first-innings deficit of 107 runs to seal a three-wicket win at Old Trafford, with Chris Woakes (84*) and Jos Buttler (75) helping the hosts to gun down a target of 277.
Anderson has taken six wickets this summer at 41.16. Statistically, it is has been his worst home summer.
After his vital 75-run knock, Buttler avoided any discussion on his father Johnny, who had spent the previous evening in hospital.
Following the toss at the Old Trafford Cricket ground in Manchester, before the start of the first Test of the three-game series, Azhar and Root, inadvertently shook hands after the toss only to realise the rules immediately.
The series will begin with the opener on August 5 at the Old Trafford Cricket ground in Manchester.
Joe Root said that Stuart Broad and James Anderson are two of the greatest bowlers of all time for England and younger players are lucky to be walking into a dressing room that has the pair.
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