Test cricket is where I belong the most, says Pant

Pant hit his sixth Test century, his first since returning to competitive cricket after recovering from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident in December 2022 on the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh.

Thanks to hundreds from Pant and Shubman Gill, India set Bangladesh an improbable target of 515, but the visitors fell far short of that mark after being bowled out for 234 in their second innings at Chepauk.

“100 was special because I love playing in Chennai. After my injury, I wanted to play all three formats and this was my first Test. I hope to get better every day,” Pant said after India's 280-run win.

“It was emotional. I wanted to score a goal in every game, but that didn't work out. But I wanted to do well in the tests, that's where I belong. Being on the field gives me more joy than anything else.”

Pant played in the style that characterises his batting and scored a fluent 109 runs from 128 balls, peppering his innings with 13 fours and four sixes. The keeper-batter combined with Gill to score 167 runs for the fourth wicket to help India move from 67/3 to 287/4 in his second attempt.

“I don't know what people are saying on the outside, but I try to interpret the situation in my own way. When you're 30-3, you have to forge a partnership. And that's exactly what Gill and I did.”

“Doing it with a guy I have a great relationship with is special,” Pant said.

After heroics from Pant and Gill with the bat, experienced off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin rounded off a memorable all-round performance with six wickets as a dominant India crushed the visitors by more than five sessions.

Centurion Ashwin did most of the damage in the first innings, while Ravindra Jadeja took 3/58.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with 82 from 127 balls.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications.