Rishabh Pant made a sensational return to Test cricket after 637 days, showcasing outstanding stroke play to notch his sixth century in the format. Walking in to bat in the course of the twentieth over of India's second innings, Pant arrived at a crucial juncture with India in a relative spot of trouble after the dismissal of Virat Kohli for 17. With captain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal each failing to register large scores, India confronted a minor top-order collapse after holding a commanding 227-run lead from the primary innings.
Pant, nonetheless, confirmed maturity in navigating the problem alongside Shubman Gill, staying agency via the tense closing overs of Day 2.
As play resumed on Day 3, Pant demonstrated uncharacteristic restraint in the early levels, choosing endurance quite than his common flamboyant type. In the primary hour, he displayed distinctive composure, specializing in solidifying India's place as an alternative of taking dangers.
He pounced on unfastened deliveries for boundaries however shunned his typical aggressive stroke play, placing a worth on his wicket. Pant’s half-century got here off 88 balls, a knock slower than common for the attacking batter, however reflective of the maturity he delivered to his comeback.
With rain forecasts looming over Days 4 and 5, Pant and Gill shifted gears after their respective half-centuries, accelerating the scoring price to benefit from Bangladesh's more and more demoralising physique language. Boundaries started to circulate as batting situations eased, and Pant seamlessly switched from a defensive mindset to an attacking one, placing additional strain on the deflated Bangladesh facet.
By the lunch break, India had prolonged their result in a commanding 432 runs with seven wickets nonetheless in hand, placing the guests underneath immense strain. Pant's century got here in 124 deliveries, and the batter thus marked a triumphant return to Test cricket.
Pant equals Dhoni
With his sixth century in the format, Rishabh Pant has now equalled former captain MS Dhoni for probably the most tons by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket. While Dhoni performed 90 Tests in his illustrious worldwide profession, Pant equalled the previous skipper's record in simply 34 appearances in the format.
Most tons by Indian WKs in Test:
- 6* – Rishabh Pant
- 6 – MS Dhoni
- 3 – Wriddhiman Saha
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter was finally dismissed for 109; he appeared to clear Mehidy Hasan's supply over the bowler's head however could not discover the timing, as Hasan took a sensible catch off his personal supply.
