India has firmly positioned itself in the driver’s seat at the close of the third day’s play in the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai. This commanding position is largely credited to splendid centuries by Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. Their stellar performances allowed India to declare with a striking lead of 514 runs, leaving more than two and a half days of play remaining in the match. In response, Bangladesh showed a more resilient batting performance compared to their first innings but still found themselves in trouble, losing four wickets. The Indian spinner, R Ashwin, played a pivotal role, dismantling the Bangladeshi batting lineup.
Ashwin, who had previously showcased his batting prowess with a century, did not take any wickets in the first innings. However, as the match progressed, he started receiving more assistance from the pitch, which he skillfully exploited. But this opportunity came only after Bangladesh’s openers, Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam, displayed a confident 62-run partnership. The pitch remained relatively benign during the early phases, enabling the batsmen to play their strokes against Indian pacers Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. This brief period of confident batting provided Bangladesh with a glimmer of hope in an otherwise one-sided contest. However, this hope was short-lived as Hasan nicked a delivery from Bumrah, leading to a well-taken catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at the gully.
As Ashwin settled into his rhythm, he began to trouble Bangladesh’s left-handed batsmen with his teasing lines and sporadic turn and bounce. His first breakthrough came when Shadman was caught at midwicket. Following this, Ashwin’s artistry was on full display when he bowled Mominul Haque with a beautiful off-break that completely missed the outside edge. Mushfiqur Rahim entered with a counter-attacking mindset and even lofted Ashwin for a six. However, this aggressive strategy proved his undoing as he mistimed another aerial shot, resulting in a catch at mid-on. Ultimately, Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious position until bad light halted play earlier than scheduled. Despite this interruption, India maintained their momentum thanks to the earlier contributions of their batsmen.
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were instrumental, compiling an impressive 167-run partnership, forcing Bangladesh to chase leather across the park. The day began on time despite the overcast morning and remnants of overnight rain. Pant initiated India’s march forward, pulling a short ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz to the boundary.
. He quickly followed it up with another four, this time a controlled pull off Hasan Mahmud.
On the other end, Gill started cautiously but soon found his footing. He launched two sixes down the track off Mehidy, advancing to a solid fifty. The pair rapidly crossed the fifty-run stand, propelling India’s lead past 350. The first hour saw a careful approach, with India accumulating 48 runs in 15 overs, despite Pant adding another four off Mehidy.
Pant reached his half-century approximately 30 minutes into the second session, taking 88 balls to get there. He exhibited a balanced blend of caution and aggression, taking full advantage of any loose deliveries. Gill, not to be left behind, put away a slow, short ball from Mahmud for a four. This was followed by a masterful shot from Pant, who danced down the pitch to drive an inside-out boundary off Mehidy. Gill joined the barrage, clearing the long-on boundary for his third six of the innings.
Rishabh Pant showcased his innovative batting by executing a reverse-sweep off Shakib Al Hasan, bringing up the century stand. A potential message from the dressing room saw Pant shift to a more aggressive gear, smashing a boundary off a Mahmud delivery, followed by a lap shot for six. Gill then maneuvered a ball from Shakib into a full toss, driving it for four wide of cover. Bangladesh’s woes were compounded when their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped a crucial catch, giving Pant a lifeline. Seizing the opportunity, Pant hit two more fours off Shakib before lunch, underscoring India’s dominance.
The post-lunch session saw the aggressive intent continue. Pant quickly moved through the 80s and 90s with an array of boundaries, ultimately reaching his sixth Test century, marking a memorable return to the longest format of the game after two years. Though he was soon dismissed, caught and bowled by Mehidy Hasan, Gill steadily made his way to his own century—his fifth in Tests—adding to Bangladesh’s misery. India declared at 287/4 with about an hour remaining in the second session, handing over the baton to Ashwin and the bowlers.
Brief scores: India 376 & 287/4 decl (Shubman Gill 119*, Rishabh Pant 109) lead Bangladesh 149 & 146/4 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 51; R Ashwin 3-63) by 357 runs.