Bangladesh start steadily in pursuit of 515 after Pant, Gill tons
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant registered tons and put on an unbroken 167-run stand as India declared with a lead of 514, setting a daunting task for Bangladesh in the final innings. The play got underway on time on an overcast morning despite overnight and early morning rains. Pant got India going with a pull shot off Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a four and his second four of the day was a controlled pull off Hasan Mahmud. Gill, who began watchfully, came down the track and struck two sixes off Mehidy to bring up a fine half-century, the fifty-run stand was raised soon after, and India also extended their lead past 350. But it was a watchful start in the first hour as India managed 48 runs in 15 overs despite Pant striking another four off Mehidy. Pant got to his fifty close to 30 minutes into the second hour, taking 88 balls to get there having started the day at 12 off 13. It was a wait and watch approach from the pair as they cashed in on the loose deliveries. Gill put away a slow, short delivery from Mahmud for a four, followed by a fine shot from Pant as he came down the track and went inside-out off Mehidy for a boundary. Gill also came down the track to Mehidy, just about clearing the long-on boundary for his third six. Pant executed a reverse-sweep off Shakib Al Hasan for a four to raise the century stand. There was, perhaps, a message from the dressing room, as Pant shifted to a higher gear, punching a Mahmud delivery for a boundary, followed by a lap shot for a six. Gill came down the track to Shakib and converted the ball into a full-toss as he played it wide of cover for a four. To add to Bangladesh's woes, their skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto put down a catch to give Pant a reprieve. Pant then struck two fours off Shakib despite it being the last over before Lunch as India asserted their authority. The top gear continued post the break as Pant raced through the 80s and 90s with a flurry of boundaries to bring up his sixth Test ton, marking a memorable return to Test cricket after two years. He was dismissed caught and bowled by Mehidy soon after but Gill clipped his way to his hundred - fifth in Tests - as India piled on the misery. The declaration came with about an hour's play left in the second session. Bangladesh's openers began confidently with the openers getting into the break with an unbeaten 56-run stand. Brief scores: India 376 & 287/4 decl (Shubman Gill 119*, Rishabh Pant 109) lead Bangladesh 149 & ( 56/0) by 467 runs