Gill, Pant gets 100s as India dominate Bangladesh in day 3 of 1st test

 

Hundreds from Gill & Pant cativated the Chennai crowd as India further tighened their noose on Bangladesh in 1st test 

Shubman Gill was dismissed for a duck in the first innings but made a century in the second. Rishabh Pant also scored a century, his first in 632 days since returning to Test cricket. Ravichandran Ashwin, who failed to take a wicket in the first innings, took three in the second. By the end of the third day, India had taken a significant step towards defeating Bangladesh, needing just six more wickets. Bangladesh, on the other hand, still require 357 runs to win. The day's play ended about 45 minutes early due to poor light, otherwise, Bangladesh might have faced even more trouble.

India resumed play on the third day at 81 for 3, with Gill and Pant at the crease. In the first innings, Gill had been dismissed playing a shot outside the leg stump, but he corrected that mistake in the second innings, playing his characteristic cover drives to balls outside off stump. He was patient, leaving the right balls and attacking when necessary.

At the other end, Pant played in his usual aggressive style. Though he had started well in the first innings before getting out for 39, he didn't make the same mistake in the second innings. Both batsmen took India forward. While Bangladesh’s bowlers had done well in the first innings, they could not trouble Gill and Pant in the second.

Pant scored 109 from 128 balls, hitting 13 fours and 4 sixes, before getting out. Gill remained unbeaten with 119 runs from 176 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. KL Rahul, who came in at number six, contributed 22 runs from 19 balls. Rohit Sharma declared the second innings at 287 for 4, setting Bangladesh a target of 515 runs.

Bangladesh didn’t start poorly in their second innings. Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam played aggressively against India’s pace attack, making good use of full-length deliveries to score quickly. The openers put up a partnership of 62 runs.

India got their first breakthrough when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Zakir for 33, with Yashasvi taking a good catch. Ashwin, who caused the most trouble for Bangladesh, then dismissed Shadman for 35 runs.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played well and scored a half-century, but lacked support from his teammates. Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim both failed to score, falling to Ashwin. When play was stopped due to poor light at 4 wickets down for 158 in 37.2 overs, Shanto was batting on 51, and Shakib Al Hasan was on 5.

India now needs six wickets to win, while Bangladesh requires 357 more runs. Given the situation, India is in a commanding position. It remains to be seen how long Shakib, Shanto, and the rest can hold off India’s pace attack on the fourth day.