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The Indian team has put themselves in a stronger position in the first Test against Bangladesh at M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The hosts have set a target of 515 runs to win and take a lead of 1-0 in the two-match Test series. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant came up with their respective centuries as India declared their second innings on 287/4. KL Rahul was also looking in good touch by scoring 22*(19) with four boundaries before skipper Rohit Sharma decided to declare the second Indian innings. With KL Rahul on crease, former India head coach Ravi Shastri opined that KL Rahul needs to realize his potential and he will be on a different level after that.
KL Rahul hasn’t been looking in good touch in recent times. He failed to get a big score in the ODI series in Sri Lanka. Afterwards, Rahul scored a half-century during the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 but again failed to get runs in the first innings of the Chennai Test. However, coming to bat in the second innings, KL Rahul timed the ball to perfection, scoring a quickfire 22 after Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill scored their centuries. After the end of the Indian innings, Ravi Shastri said, “"KL Rahul needs to realise that he has got much of talent. The day he realises that and comes out with a mindset and thinking in that fashion. He will be a different player.”
Rishabh Pant - Shubman Gill shine in second innings as India set 515-run target for Bangladesh
After taking a mammoth lead of 227 runs in the first innings, India declared their second innings on 287/4, giving Bangladesh a huge target of 515 runs to win the first Test. The stars of the second innings for India were Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, who scored respective centuries on day three and put up a partnership of 167 runs.
After India lost three wickets for 67 runs in the second innings, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill took charge of the innings, where Pant was first one to reach his century. Playing his first Test since December 2022, Pant got out after scoring 109(128) runs with 13 fours and four sixes. After that, Gill also didn’t take much time to reach the three figures as he scored 119*(176) runs with 10 fours and four sixes before captain Rohit Sharma decided to call off the Indian innings.
