IND vs BAN 1st Test Day 3 Highlights: Pant, Gill centuries put India in driver’s seat in Chennai

India vs Bangladesh Day 3. (Photo Source: BCCI)

India ruled the roost on Day 3 and pushed Bangladesh further back in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, September 21.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant started proceedings for India, who had already mustered a lead of 308 runs. The flamboyant duo played some exquisite shots along the ground as well as over the fielders en route to adding 124 runs in 28 overs in the first session. After the Lunch break, both players upped the ante and got to their respective centuries in quick time.

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Pant equalled the legendary MS Dhoni’s record of having the most number of Test centuries (six) by a designated Indian wicketkeeper. The southpaw was eventually dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz after scoring a sparkling 109 off 128 balls. He hit 13 fours and four sixes in his swashbuckling knock. The entertaining 167-run partnership between Pant and Gill ended with the former’s dismissal. However, the latter went on to remain unbeaten on 119 off 176 balls, belting 10 fours and four sixes, as India declared at 287/4, setting Bangladesh an improbable target of 515.

R Ashwin comes to the party with the ball

Bangladesh openers put on a much better fight in the second innings than they did in the first. Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam added 62 runs off 98 balls, mixing caution with aggression. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood for India as he got the better of Zakir, who was caught magnificently by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully. 

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After this, it was the battle between Ashwin and the Bangladeshi batters that hogged the limelight. The legendary off-spinner accounted for the wicket of Shadman as Shubman took a good forward-diving catch at mid-wicket. This was Ashwin’s first wicket in the Test match after he went wicketless in the first innings. He followed it up with the wicket of Mominul Haque, who was cleaned up with a classic. Ashwin tossed it up around middle stump and the ball spun past Mominul’s defence to castle the southpaw.

Mushfiqur was the last batter to be dismissed as KL Rahul took an excellent low catch diving forward at md-on. Ashwin finished the day 3/63 from 15 overs and would want to seal his 37th five-for in Test cricket on Day 4. Bangladesh ended the day at 158/4, needing 357 runs to register a historic win.