Joe Root is determined to make the most of his time with the England squad in India even if he does not break into the Test team.

The Yorkshire opener is battling it out with Somerset's Nick Compton to partner new captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order ahead of the first of four Test matches at Ahmedabad, starting on November 15.

Compton got the nod for the tour opener against India A earlier this week, but scored a three-ball duck.

Root could get a chance to press his claim today when England start another three-day warm-up match against Mumbai A, a fixture in which White Rose team-mate Jonny Bairstow is expected to take the wicketkeeping gloves in order to allow Matt Prior to rest.

"I just want to enjoy it, take as much from it as possible and come back a better player," said 21-year-old Root, who has scored 964 runs from 18 first-class matches in 2012, both for Yorkshire and England Lions.

"If that means me playing a game, then brilliant. If not, I'll be doing all I can to help the other lads out as well as improving my own game too.

"I've just got to concentrate on doing my things to the best of my ability, and hopefully I will get a go in the Test matches."

Bairstow had to pass a fitness test yesterday on a tweaked thigh muscle in order to put him in contention to claim a place in today's line-up.

Despite Bairstow scoring 95 and 54 in his last Test appearance against South Africa at Lord's in August, Samit Patel is the favourite to claim the number six spot in the Tests having scored a hundred against India A and because of his ability to bowl left-arm spin.

"There's competition for places all over the squad, not just at the top of the order," said Root.

Having lost the summer series against South Africa, and with it their ranking as the number one team in the world, the forthcoming series against Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side is a crucial one for England. But they head into it as second favourites.

Even so, Root says confidence is high within the camp.

"Playing India is always a tough series, especially when they're in their back yard," he added. "But there's absolutely no reason why we can't do well with the talent we have in our squad."

England's final warm-up match is a four-day game with Haryana in Ahmedabad, starting on Thursday.