PTI, Chennai
Centuries from Rishabh Pant (109 off 128 balls) and Shubman Gill (119 not out off 176 balls), who made his first Test appearance after the accident, and the fine support from the fielders to the bowlers, helped India take a firm grip on the first Test against Bangladesh. Chasing a target of 515 runs to win, Bangladesh were still 357 runs behind. India were 287 / 4 at the end of the second day's play. Bangladesh had a good start. However, Ravichandran Ashwin's (3/63) spin bowling brought Bangladesh in trouble at the end of the day. Bangladesh were 158 for 4 with captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto (51) and former captain Shakib Al Hasan (5) unbeaten on the pitch.
The Chepauk pitch did not appear to be conducive to spin even after the third day. The ball wasn't moving much. On a batting-friendly pitch, India added 206 runs in just 41 overs on the third day. Pant, who was brimming with confidence after a long break, impressed everyone with a brilliant century. This was Pant's sixth Test century. He hit 13 fours and four sixes in his innings. The duo added 147 runs for the fourth wicket. After Pant's dismissal, India showed no interest in prolonging the innings. Shubman Gill scored a brilliant century in the first innings, smashing 10 fours and four sixes.
Chasing 515 to win, Bangladesh got off to a steady start with openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam scoring half-centuries. The pitch was flat. The ball was coming on to the bat easily. The fast bowlers struggled. However, Ashwin brought India back into the game. The fielders also contributed well. Bumrah gets his first wicket. Bangladesh won the match by 62 runs. However, the Bangladesh batsmen crumbled in front of Ashwin's spin and their patience began to be tested. Shadman Khan (35), Mominul Haque (13) and Mushfiqur Rahim (13) were the other batsmen to fall. It will depend on how long the partnership of Shanto and Shakib lasts. The third day's play was called off due to bad light. Rains are expected to continue for four more days. The weather could also be a factor in this game.
Before that, both Pant and Gill adopted a different approach to counter-attack. The Indian duo of Pant and Gill, who came out to bowl on the second day, showed respect to the bowling on the third day. The defence held firm without worrying about the nearby fielders. When it seemed that the bowler was now trying to dominate, both of them played aggressively. India has hit 85 sixes so far in 2024. He was 5 sixes away from hitting the most number of sixes in a single year. India won the third ODI by 41 runs.
Played to neutralise spin: Gill
The ball was turning in a strange way on the pitch. At one point, there was even a possibility of the spinners getting the ball to bounce. Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten century in the second innings, said that he decided to come forward and play to neutralize the spinners. But it was moving and moving in a strange way. It's a real confusing situation for the bowlers and that's why the batting was changed to make them more uncomfortable, "Gill said.
Brief Runsheet:
India (1st innings) 376
Bangladesh (1st innings) 149
India (2nd innings) 287 / 4 declared in 64 overs (Shubman Gill 119 not out, Rishabh Pant 109; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2/103)
Bangladesh 158 / 4 in 37.2 overs (Nazmul Hossain Shanto 51, Shakib Al Hasan 5, Shadman Islam 35, Zakir Hasan 33, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/63)
