Chennai Test: India set for big win after Pant, Gill hit centuries on Day 3

Centuries from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill helped India extend their domination over Bangladesh and were in sight of a big win in the opening Test of the two-match series in Chennai on Saturday (September 21)

On the third day, India declared their second innings at 287 for four, setting Bangladesh a daunting 515-run target to win.

Bangladesh showed some grit in their second innings to reach 158 for four when play was called off at 4.25 pm due to bad light. They still need a whopping 357 runs for the result to be in their favour.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (51) and Shakib Al-Hasan (5) were manning the crease for the visitors, and the day could have ended on a better note for them have they been a slightly more judicious in shot selection against star off-spinner R Ashwin (3/63).

Earlier, resuming at 81/3, India called the shots with comeback man Rishabh Pant (109) and Shubman Gill (119 not out) completing their centuries with dominant batting.

Making a splendid return to Test cricket after 634 days following his horrific car crash in December 2022, Pant showcased his trademark strokeplay, bringing up his sixth Test century off just 124 balls.

With this he also equalled the talismanic former captain MS Dhoni for most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper.

Following Pant's dismissal for a well-made 109 (128b; 13x4, 4x6), Gill reached his fifth Test century, taking 161 balls to get there. Gill faced 176 balls in his innings, hitting 10 shots to the fence and four over it.

Bangladesh were bundled out for a meager 149 on day two in response to India's 376, as a record 17 wickets fell in a dramatic day’s play at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.