1st In 797 Days: Rishabh Pant Ends A Long Wait With Fiery Ton For India Against Bangladesh

Rishabh Pant completed an emotional re-initiation into Test cricket while Shubman Gill added another chapter to his growing stature in red-ball format as their centuries laced India's total domination of Bangladesh on the third of the first match here on Saturday. At tea, Bangladesh were 56 for no loss while chasing an improbable 515 after India, overnight 81 for 3, declared their innings closed at 287 for four, swelling the lead to 514.

Gill (119 not out, 176b, 10x4, 4x6) and Pant (109, 128b, 148m, 13x4, 4x6) led the hosts' run glut with an alliance of 167 off 217 balls for the fourth wicket.

Shadman Islam (21) and Zakir Hasan (32) were at the crease for Bangladesh when tea was taken.

However, numbers have no relevance on the day as hundreds by Pant and Gill were more a testimony of their will to rise above towering personal obstacles.

Pant's turmoil has been widely-documented after that horrifying car crash in December 2022, and the way he reacted after reaching his sixth Test hundred with a two off Shakib Al-Hasan underscored the value he attached to the knock. This was Pant's first century in international cricket since his ton against England in Manchester in an ODI on July 17, 2022. Hence, this was Pant's first ton in any format in 797 days. 

Pant last scored a ton in Tests against England in Birmingham on July 1, 2022. 

Pant stood near the middle of the crease with closed eyes, upward tilted head and a raised bat – offering a silent prayer, perhaps, to the Lord above for returning cricket to him, life even, may be.

Gill watched the whole scene from a fair distance, as he did not want to invade into an intensely private moment of his partner.

Soon, the two young men melted into a warm embrace as Chepauk erupted.

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