(Photo credit: Screengrab from video posted on X)
NEW DELHI: Swashbuckling Rishabh Pant hogged the spotlight on the third day of India’s first Test against Bangladesh, smashing an emotional hundred in the second innings in Chennai on Saturday.
Pant, who made a comeback to the longest format in the Chennai Test after his horrifying car crash in December 2022, hit his sixth Test ton to equal MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman.
Resuming on his overnight score of 12, Pant got to his ton off 124 balls to make a memorable return.
Interestingly, before the start of play on Day 3, Pant was seen worshipping his bat, gloves and helmet. In a heart-warming video on social media, Pant was seen in front of his kit, with folded hands.
Pant, who made a comeback to the longest format in the Chennai Test after his horrifying car crash in December 2022, hit his sixth Test ton to equal MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman.
Resuming on his overnight score of 12, Pant got to his ton off 124 balls to make a memorable return.
Interestingly, before the start of play on Day 3, Pant was seen worshipping his bat, gloves and helmet. In a heart-warming video on social media, Pant was seen in front of his kit, with folded hands.
Soon after reaching his hundred, Pant was yet again seen in an emotional avatar. He stood near the middle of the pitch with closed eyes, an upward tilted head and a raised bat – offering a silent prayer, perhaps, to the Lord above for returning life and cricket to him.
Riding on Pant’s 109 and Shubman Gill‘s 119 not out India set a 515 target for Bangladesh in the first Test.
Before bad light forced early stumps on the third day, the visitors reached 158 for 4, needing another 357 runs for an unlikely win.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan were unbeaten on 51 and 5 at the close of play.