India is sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat at the conclusion of the third day’s play in the first Test against Bangladesh, thanks to stellar centuries from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. These brilliant performances allowed India to declare their innings with an imposing lead of 514 runs, leaving more than two and a half days of play. In response, Bangladesh managed a better show in their second innings compared to their first, yet they still lost four crucial wickets, with India’s R Ashwin causing the most damage.
R Ashwin, who had recently celebrated a century with the bat, failed to claim any wickets in the first innings. However, as the match progressed, he began to exploit the pitch conditions effectively. Before Ashwin could make his mark, Bangladesh’s openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam constructed a confident 62-run partnership. Up until this point, the pitch hadn’t posed any significant challenges, allowing the duo to play some aggressive strokes against India’s pace attack, led by Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. This partnership gave Bangladesh a much-needed boost in an otherwise one-sided game. However, Hasan eventually fell to Bumrah, caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully, marking the beginning of Bangladesh’s troubles.
Ashwin then started weaving his magic, using a combination of teasing lines and occasional turn and bounce to unsettle the left-handed batsmen. He had Shadman caught at midwicket and bowled Mominul Haque with a magnificent offbreak that eluded the outside edge. Mushfiqur Rahim attempted to counter-attack and even hit Ashwin for a six, but his aggressive intent led to his downfall as he mistimed a shot and was caught at mid-on. With light fading, Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious position before bad light brought an early end to the day’s play. Despite the loss of overs, India’s earlier batting heroics facilitated a commanding position.
The day had commenced with overcast conditions following overnight and early morning rain, but the match got underway on time. Rishabh Pant set the tone for India, opening the day’s scoring with a pull shot for four off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. His second boundary, also a pull shot, came off Hasan Mahmud. Shubman Gill, who initially took a cautious approach, began to find his rhythm as he came down the track to Mehidy and smashed him for two sixes, bringing up his half-century. Shortly thereafter, the pair raised their fifty-run stand and extended India’s lead past 350.
. Despite Pant adding another four off Mehidy, it was a watchful first hour with India scoring 48 runs off 15 overs.
Pant reached his fifty close to 30 minutes into the second hour, taking 88 balls to get there after resuming the day at 12 off 13 balls. With a strategy centered around capitalizing on loose deliveries, the duo accumulated runs at a steady pace. Gill dispatched a short, slow delivery from Mahmud for a four, followed by Pant who played a delightful inside-out shot off Mehidy for another boundary. Gill continued his attack on Mehidy, clearing the long-on boundary with his third six.
Pant was in sublime form, executing a reverse-sweep off Shakib Al Hasan for a boundary to bring up their century partnership. Sensing an opportunity to accelerate, Pant shifted gears, punching a Mahmud delivery for a four and following it up with a lap shot that soared for a six. Gill, not to be left behind, came down the track to Shakib and played a full-toss wide of cover for another four. Adding to Bangladesh’s woes, Pant survived a dropped catch by their skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto. Capitalizing on this lifeline, Pant struck two more boundaries off Shakib, asserting India’s dominance just before Lunch.
Post the lunch break, the Indian batsmen continued their aggressive batting. Pant rapidly progressed through the 80s and 90s, eventually bringing up his sixth Test century. This match was particularly significant for him as it marked his triumphant return to Test cricket after a two-year hiatus. His splendid innings came to an end when he was caught and bowled by Mehidy immediately after reaching his ton. Gill, showing ominous form, reached his fifth Test century, ensuring India’s dominance. The declaration came with around an hour left in the second session, setting the stage for Ashwin and Co. to take control with the ball.
At the end of an eventful day, India’s scores stood at 376 & 287/4 declared, while Bangladesh had managed 149 & 146/4, trailing by 357 runs. With a massive lead and an in-form bowling attack, India looks poised to secure a commanding victory.