As an overcast and windswept morning wound down ever so slowly in Chennai, the stage was set for an action-packed day of cricket. The pitch, showing no mischief, was primed for runs aplenty. India, with a sizable total already on the board, had Bangladesh reeling. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, comfortable and settled at the crease, were ready for their symphony of strokes. Every shot was in play—the sharp punch-drive, the audacious ramp over the shoulder, the quick-footed lofts, and the distinctive one-handed swipes.
Although their partnership on the third day of this Chennai Test was a near-perfect blend of aggression and finesse, it wasn’t entirely without humorous quirks. In one peculiar mid-pitch conversation, the two batsmen clashed their bats together twice. Gill later revealed that Pant, in his typical unpredictable manner, insisted on a second bat-tap if the first one wasn’t “properly timed”, regardless of the risk of damaging Gill’s bat that had seen action during the high-octane England series.
Interestingly, up until this match, Gill and Pant had never batted together in 12 Tests and 13 first-class games, even though their roles had been pivotal in India’s historic fourth-innings chase at the Gabba three years ago. In that series, their batting positions—the opener Gill and the middle-order keeper-bat Pant—kept them glued to different metrics of the game. This contributed to them never sharing the crease until this long-awaited meeting in Chennai.
Gill’s career trajectory did not soar as immediately as fans and pundits had hoped. Having slid down to No.3 in the batting order, he endured a tough patch, averaging a mere 17.30 over the course of 11 innings between the WTC 2023 Final and the Hyderabad Test. Patterns began to emerge in his dismissals, casting doubt on his long-term viability in Test cricket. Critics questioned the wisdom of persisting with him; a Test average in the low 30s after 21 Tests did not bode well for his career in the whites.
Yet, in a turning point series against England earlier this year, Gill found his form. He scored two centuries, a ninety, and an important fourth-innings fifty, all while India was missing several first-choice players. These accomplishments, however, came with the lurking concern of whether a six-month break between Tests would disrupt his newfound momentum.
Pant’s own journey was no less dramatic. His red-ball career was peaking with stunning centuries in Ahmedabad and Cape Town, and an impressive 93 in Mirpur, before a devastating car accident put him out of action for 14 Test matches.
. Speculation ran rife: would he ever return? Would his body withstand the demands of wicket-keeping and batting in the grueling format of Test cricket? When he did come back, would he still be his vibrant, dynamic self?
All these questions were emphatically answered on that third day in Chennai. With the pitch flattening out, India was poised comfortably ahead by over 300 runs. Gill and Pant were free to bat at their leisure, although even a “simple” Test hundred demands concentration and application. The pair cautiously saw out the early overs, mindful of any adjustments the overnight rains might have brought to the pitch. Once the initial threat was managed, they proceeded to dispatch the bowling attack to all corners of the ground.
Pant, always the aggressor, quickly overtook Gill and sped towards his century. Given what he had gone through in the past two years, who could deny him a seamless return to the century mark? Albeit, not without a touch of drama: Najmul Hossain Shanto dropping him on 72 did nothing to faze him. Pant continued his antics, humorously suggesting field placements to the Bangladesh captain, Suleiman Hossain. The crowd held its breath as he raced into the nineties, not just for the milestone he was approaching but for the incredible journey he’d undertaken to get there.
As Pant nudged the ball for two to secure his hundred, he looked skywards in a rare moment of reflection, while the Chepauk crowd erupted in applause. Virat Kohli, who had paused his practice session to watch the landmark, stood just beyond the boundary ropes, absorbing the significance of the moment.
Gill’s path to his century was less about speed and more about elegance. Prior to this series, Gill confessed he hadn’t reached his own expectations in Test cricket and was determined to change that over the forthcoming 10-Test stretch. His unbeaten second-innings hundred in this match was a crucial step towards this goal. “I feel like the best is still to come. Definitely,” he confidently stated in the post-match press conference.
While centuries on placid pitches against an exhausted opposition awaiting a declaration may sometimes be exaggerated in importance, this partnership must be viewed in the broader context. It was a reaffirmation of India’s faith in their No.3 and No.5, and it reunited two of the brightest stars from that historic Gabba series in a new chapter.
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir summed it up aptly before the season began: “You will always want your best players to play.” On this day in Chennai, not only were the best playing, but they were performing at their finest.