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On Thursday, September 19, Rishabh Pant made a triumphant return to Test cricket 632 days after a life-threatening car accident at the end of 2022. The Indian wicket-keeper batter is currently playing the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, and in his first innings on the comeback trail to the longest format, he scored a swashbuckling 39 off 52, to bring India out of trouble in the first session on day one.
Notably, Rishabh Pant had earlier made his return to professional cricket in the IPL 2024 season with Delhi Capitals in March of this year after recovering from multiple injuries suffered in a car accident. Following that, in June, the 26-year-old played his first match for India in a year and a half during the T20 World Cup 2024, which the Men in Blue managed to win.
Rishabh Pant scored 39 off 52 to bring India out of trouble in first innings against Bangladesh
During the first session of the India versus Bangladesh Test match in Chennai, India lost three quick wickets in the first hour when Hasan Mahmud, the Bangladesh fast bowler, sent opposition captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli back to the pavilion for single digit scores. With that, Rishabh Pant walked out to the crease to join Yashasvi Jaiswal in the middle, stitching together a vital 62-run stand for the fourth wicket, to take the initiative of the Test from Bangladesh somewhat.
In his first innings on Test return, Rishabh Pant managed to score 39 runs off just 52 balls with seven fours on a pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium assisting the fast bowlers on the first morning of the match. After Hasan Mahmud managed to nick off Rishabh Pant through to wicket-keeper Litton Das, the Indian wicket-keeper batter wasn’t quite impressed with his own dismissal, slamming the bat in anger.
Moreover, as of this writing, India are 219/6 in 55 overs at the start of the third session of the first Test match against Bangladesh. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are in the midst of a fantastic 75-run partnership, to bring the Indian cricket team back into the match.
