India vs Bangladesh Test: Bangladesh has a mountain to climb after the Gill-Pant show

While the India No. 3 scores an unbeaten hundred, the wicketkeeper-batter makes an incredible return to the Test fold with his sixth century; chasing a mammoth target of 515, Najmul’s team reaches 158 for four; Ashwin takes three wickets

India maintained its incremental progress in the first Test with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant setting the base for an inevitable triumph. At close on the third day here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, chasing a gargantuan 515, Bangladesh scored 158 for four in the second innings.

The visitor commenced the second essay on a brisk note through openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam. The former kept finding the ropes and Bangladesh remained unscathed at tea. However, after the caffeine break, the cookie began to crumble as Jasprit Bumrah drew an edge from Zakir and Yashasvi Jaiswal dived low to pluck a fine catch.

Later R. Ashwin scalped Shadman, who found an agile Gill at short mid-wicket. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto danced down the wicket twice and smote Ashwin. The wily spinner, though, kept India in the hunt, knocking back Mominul Haque’s stumps and accounting for Mushfiqur Rahim. And then the skies darkened, a Saturday waned and most probably a triumphant Sunday awaits India.

Earlier in the morning under overcast conditions following overnight rains, India resumed its second innings at 81 for three. A weekend crowd trooped in mostly attired in Virat or Rohit jerseys, while some wore shirts featuring the city’s eternal favourite Dhoni. If fans made their fondness obvious for the senior troika, it was India’s junior crop that led the way on the pitch.

Forward march

The forward march was led by Gill, all aesthetic delight and effective shots, and Pant, the hustling southpaw with his spirit of irreverence, a throwback to the Virender Sehwag era.

Bangladesh opened with spin as Mehidy Hasan Miraz wheeled his arm over. Pant pulled a four, Gill hoisted two sixes and the first session’s cruise-mode was truly on. In one instance, Pant lost his grip but still went through with a one-handed six.

The two batters ensured that India kept soaring. Their respective fifties were etched much to the delight of the home dressing room while Najmul swapped his bowlers around in vain. The captain was also guilty of dropping Pant on 72, when the latter miscued a lofted shot off Shakib Al Hasan.

Heading into lunch, India was well placed at 205 for three. After the break, Pant rushed towards his sixth Test ton and soon the helmet was removed while he kept gazing at the skies. To survive a life-threatening accident and play cricket again was never easy but Pant did that with a perseverance that is the stuff of legend.

Shortly after his emotionally charged sixth Test hundred, Pant (109) struck one back to Miraz and retreated. By then he and Gill had added 167 runs for the fourth wicket and the stage was set for the latter to reach his fifth Test ton.

With K.L. Rahul being an able foil, Gill (119 n.o.) pocketed the runs with elan and Rohit Sharma declared at 287 for four leaving Bangladesh staring at a steep target.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA — 1st innings: 376 in 91.2 overs

BANGLADESH — 1st innings: 149 in 47.1 overs

INDIA — 2nd innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal c Litton b Nahid 10 (17b, 2x4), Rohit Sharma c Zakir b Taskin 5 (7b, 1x4), Shubman Gill (not out) 119 (176b, 10x4, 4x6), Virat Kohli lbw b Miraz 17 (37b, 2x4), Rishabh Pant c & b Miraz 109 (128b, 13x4, 4x6), K.L. Rahul (not out) 22 (19b, 4x4); Extras (lb-4, w-1): 5; Total (for four wkts. decl. in 64 overs): 287.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-15 (Rohit, 2.3 overs), 2-28 (Jaiswal, 6.4), 3-67 (Kohli, 19.2), 4-234 (Pant, 55.3).

BANGLADESH BOWLING: Taskin 7-1-22-1, Mahmud 11-1-43-0, Nahid 6-0-21-1, Shakib 13-0-79-0, Miraz 25-3-103-2, Mominul 2-0-15-0.

BANGLADESH — 2nd innings: Zakir Hasan c Jaiswal b Bumrah 33 (47b, 5x4, 1x6), Shadman Islam c Gill b Ashwin 35 (68b, 3x4), Najmul Hossain Shanto (batting) 51 (60b, 4x4, 3x6), Mominul Haque b Ashwin 13 (24b, 3x4), Mushfiqur Rahim c Rahul b Ashwin 13 (11b, 1x4, 1x6), Shakib Al Hasan (batting) 5 (14b); Extras (b-4, lb-4): 8; Total (for four wkts. in 37.2 overs): 158.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-62 (Zakir, 16.2), 2-86 (Shadman, 21.3), 3-124 (Mominul, 29.6), 4-146 (Mushfiqur, 33.4).

INDIA BOWLING: Bumrah 7-2-18-1, Siraj 3.2-1-20-0, Akash 6-0-20-0, Ashwin 15-0-63-3, Jadeja 6-0-29-0.

Published - September 21, 2024 12:05 pm IST