Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant solidified India’s commanding position as both batsmen notched crucial centuries, leading India to declare their innings at a formidable 287/4, setting a towering target of 515 for Bangladesh. The partnership between Gill and Pant, which flourished into a 167-run stand, proved pivotal in propelling India’s lead to an insurmountable 514 runs.
Play commenced as scheduled on an overcast morning, despite the previous night’s and early morning’s rainfall. Rishabh Pant quickly set the pace for India with an aggressive pull shot off Mehidy Hasan Miraz that resulted in a four. He continued this aggressive form with another controlled pull off Hasan Mahmud, securing his second boundary of the day.
Gill, adopting a more cautious approach initially, soon displayed his prowess by stepping down the pitch to Mehidy’s deliveries, smashing two towering sixes to bring up his half-century. Their efforts quickly raised a fifty-run stand, and India’s lead soon surpassed the 350-run mark. Despite Pant’s aggressive gameplay, India had a steady yet watchful first hour, amassing 48 runs in 15 overs with Pant and Gill fortifying their positions at the crease.
It took Pant 88 balls to reach his fifty, coming roughly 30 minutes into the second hour of play, having started the day relatively slowly at 12 off 13 balls. It was a methodical approach from both players, capitalizing mainly on loose deliveries from Bangladesh’s bowlers. Gill capitalized on a sluggish, short delivery from Mahmud to secure a four, quickly followed by another fine boundary from Pant, who stepped down the track and played an impressive inside-out shot off Mehidy.
Gill continued his onslaught, narrowly clearing the long-on boundary for his third six against Mehidy. Pant demonstrated his versatility with a reverse-sweep off Shakib Al Hasan, pushing India’s total and raising their century stand. There appeared to be strategic communication from the dressing room as Pant accelerated, smashing a Mahmud delivery for a boundary and executing a lap shot for a six.
. Gill followed suit, converting a delivery from Shakib into a full-toss, driving it wide for another four.
Adding to Bangladesh’s increasing troubles, their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped a critical catch, giving Pant another chance to continue his dominating innings. Pant took full advantage, striking two additional boundaries off Shakib in the last over before the lunch break, further asserting India’s control over the match.
Post-lunch, Pant continued his onslaught, moving speedily through the 80s and 90s with a flurry of boundaries. He reached his sixth Test century with a blend of aggression and finesse, marking a triumphant return to Test cricket after a two-year hiatus. Although his outstanding innings came to an end with a catch and bowl by Mehidy, Gill remained resolute, clipping his way to his own century—his fifth in Test cricket—as India continued to pile on the agony for Bangladesh. With approximately an hour left in the second session, India declared their innings at 287/4, leaving Bangladesh a Herculean task of chasing down a mammoth 515 total.
Faced with a daunting target, Bangladesh’s openers began their innings cautiously but effectively. By the break, they had managed to secure an unbeaten 56-run stand, showing resilience in the face of a colossal chase.
To summarize the day’s play, the brief scores are as follows: India declared at 376 & 287/4, with Shubman Gill remaining not out on 119 and Rishabh Pant contributing a significant 109. Bangladesh, after their first innings score of 149, finished the day at 56/0, still trailing by 467 runs.
As the match progresses, all eyes will be on Bangladesh to see if they can navigate their way through this overwhelming task or if India’s imposing lead will prove too much to overcome. The cricketing world awaits with bated breath to witness how this dramatic encounter unfolds.