Shubhman Gill and Rishab Pant hit half-centuries as India reached 205-3, extending its lead to 432 at lunch on Day 3 of the first cricket Test against Bangladesh at M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today.
Resuming the day at 81-3, Gill and Pant kept the side unscathed throughout the morning session to pile a host of misery on the tourists.
Both the batters attacked in style to leave Bangladeshi bowlers, who came into the series high on confidence following Pakistan triumph, in disarray.
The method of Pant and Gill was just simple: to attack without fearing about the wicket and pitch and that paid the rich dividends as the relentless attack left the Bangladeshi bowlers clueless.
They came together after India were reduced to 67-3, losing the likes of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli but both of them thrived on counterattack to set them in the crease.
Gill was the first one to reach his half-century, his seventh in his career off 79, smashing Mehidy Hasan Miraz a six over long-on.
Pant who was initially slow, regained his touch quickly, by hitting some boundaries. He was particularly harsh on Bangladesh’s best bowler Hasan Mahmud.
Pant, who is playing his first Test after the deadly car accident which almost took his life two and half years ago, raised his 12th fifty off 88 balls, taking a single of Miraz through deep square leg.
After completing the half-centuries, they unleashed some powerful shots from the repertoire in a bid to accelerate the innings and so far did in style.
Bangladesh bowlers, barring Shakib Al Hasan, in fact failed to create any chance in the whole morning session. Shakib produced a chance when Pant top-edged a delivery on 72 but captain Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to hold on to it.
