Rishabh Pant made an incredible return to Test cricket after 637 days. In the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh, he smashed his sixth Test century with some fantastic batting. Pant came in to bat during a crucial moment in the 20th over, with India in a tough situation. Virat Kohli had just been dismissed for 17, and with both Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal failing to score big, India’s top order had a mini-collapse, despite their strong 227-run lead from the first innings.
Pant partnered with Shubman Gill to stabilize the innings. Together, they survived the tricky final overs of Day 2, ensuring that India stayed in control.
Day 3: Pant’s Calm and Composed Batting
On Day 3, Pant showed a lot of patience, which is different from his usual aggressive style. In the first hour, he played cautiously, focusing on strengthening India’s position rather than taking unnecessary risks. Although he punished loose balls by hitting boundaries, he remained cautious and valued his wicket.
Pant reached his half-century from 88 balls, slower than his usual pace, but this knock showed his maturity and control on his comeback.
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Accelerating the Scoring
With rain predicted for Days 4 and 5, Pant and Gill picked up the pace after their fifties. As Bangladesh’s bowlers started to tire, Pant switched gears, playing more aggressively and piling on the runs. The partnership between Pant and Gill helped put India in a commanding position as Bangladesh’s body language worsened.
Century Milestone
By lunch, India’s lead had stretched to 432 runs, with seven wickets still in hand. Pant reached his century off 124 balls, marking a triumphant return to Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant Equals Dhoni’s Record
With this century, Pant has now matched MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. While Dhoni achieved six centuries in 90 Tests, Pant equaled the feat in just 34 matches.
Most Centuries by Indian Wicketkeepers in Test Cricket
| Player | Centuries | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | 6 | 34 |
| MS Dhoni | 6 | 90 |
| Wriddhiman Saha | 3 | 40 |
Pant was eventually dismissed for 109 when he mistimed a shot off Mehidy Hasan’s bowling, with Hasan taking a sharp catch off his own delivery. Despite this, Pant’s outstanding knock put India in a dominant position.
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