India vs Bangladesh 1st Test, Day 3 key takeaways: Gill-Pant centurions, Ashwin spins a trap, Shanto makes a stand

Having gained a sizeable lead, India declared the 2nd innings at 287/4. Bangladesh responded with a strong opening stand but India eventually gained a breakthrough courtesy of Jasprit Bumrah followed by Ravichandran Ashwin striking thrice.

Here are the key takeaways from the third day’s play at Chepauk:

Gill-Pant go big

While it was Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the first innings, who made batting look so easy on a tricky surface, with conditions having gotten easier, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant dominated the Bangladesh bowlers. The duo got their hundreds and added 177 runs for the fourth wicket. While Pant was at his inventive and reactive best – accumulating runs at a brisk pace – Gill took the more conventional approach with his textbook strokes.

Pant back as if he never left

The last time Rishabh Pant played a Test match for India – before this one that is – was back in December 2022. Coincidentally, that was against Bangladesh as well. A Test in which he scored 93 to help India clinch the series. On Saturday, in his first Test since his road accident in late 2022, he took a step further and scored a hundred. Shubman Gill, who accompanied him in the middle sang praises of Pant.

“I have spent a lot of time with him on and off the field and watching him score his first 50 and first 100 after his comeback gives me so much pleasure. I have seen him work so hard for it when he was coming back from the injury and I think he also must be feeling really good,” Gill said.

Bumrah breaks the deadlock

With a steady opening partnership building between Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan, India needed a wicket. And to break the deadlock, stepped up Jasprit Bumrah. The pace spearhead who struck four times in the first innings lured Hasan into poking a shot outside the off stump that was latched onto by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully.

Ashwin turns the tide

With Bumrah having opened the floodgates, Ravichandran Ashwin stepped up to help India seize control of the game. Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim all succumbed to his traps. Most enchanting was his dismissal of Mominul, who was forced into committing on front foot as Ashwin drifted in a delivery from round the wicket before it straightened upon pitching, clipping the off stump.

Shanto with a captain’s knock

With wickets falling at the other end, Najmul Hossain Shanto would keep the pressure on the Indian bowlers from the other as he notched up a quickfire half-century. As it stands, he is unbeaten at 51 off just 60 deliveries in the middle alongside Shakib Al Hasan. If Bangladesh are to win the match from here, Shanto’s presence in the middle is bound to be crucial.