Pant-Gill partnership growing as India take lead past 400
India reached 205 for three in 51 overs by lunch, with a commanding lead of 432 runs. Pant remained unbeaten on 82, while Gill was not out on 86.
Bangladesh bowlers struggled to create opportunities and failed to capitalize on the biggest one they managed, as India's overnight batters, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, extended their team's lead past 400 on Day 3 of the first Test at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
India reached 205 for three in 51 overs by lunch, with a commanding lead of 432 runs. Pant remained unbeaten on 82, while Gill was not out on 86.
The visitors missed a crucial chance when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped Pant on 72. The left-hander mistimed a slog sweep off Shakib Al Hasan in the 49th over, skying the ball, but Shanto failed to hold on.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Resuming the day at 81 for three in overcast conditions, Pant and Gill adopted a positive approach, building an unbroken 138-run partnership for the fourth wicket. They took on the Bangladesh bowlers, who found little assistance from the pitch. Spinners Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan bore the brunt of the aggression, as both batters frequently used their feet to disrupt the bowlers.
Gill reached his seventh Test fifty off 79 balls, smashing two sixes off Miraz in the process. He later added another six off the same bowler. Pant, after a cautious start, accelerated with a one-handed six over long-off against Miraz.
Pant notched up his 12th Test fifty, playing with flair, including a series of slog sweeps against Shakib. Even after being dropped, he continued to attack, reverse-sweeping Shakib for a boundary to bring up his 100-run stand with Gill. In the final over before lunch, Pant struck two more boundaries off Shakib, underlining India's dominance.
