Chennai: The bond between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant is the perfect example of how off-field camaraderie can help optimize the performances on the field. The Indian pair share a great bonhomie off the field, which translates into something special when they batter together on the 22 yards.
Pant and Gill shared a sensational partnership in India’s second innings to perfectly set up the match for the Chennai hosts. Both batters failed to make a meaningful impact in the first essay but redeemed themselves with a 167-run stand during the second innings. The partnership turned out to be crucial in the final context of the match as India claimed a 280-run win after Bangladesh fell well short of the 515-run target.
Pant later revealed the secret of his successful partnership with Gill.
“When you have a great relationship outside the field, it helps to bat with that guy. We were having fun, having chats, talking about the game, and staying relaxed. At the end of the day, we both knew what we wanted to do,” said Pant in a BCCI video posted on social media.
Pant’s sensational red-ball return
Pant looked in decent touch in the first innings, scoring 39 off 52 balls including four boundaries. However, a loose shot cut short his stay at the crease. He more than made up for his mistake with a blazing century in the second innings.
The Delhi wicket-keeper batter marked his return to red-ball international cricket with a magnificent century, scoring 109 off just 128 balls with the help of 13 boundaries and four sixes. This was Pant’s first Test since the life-threatening car crash he suffered in 2022.
Meanwhile, Gill remained unbeaten on 119 as India declared their second innings on 287 for 4.
India crushed Bangladesh in the opening Test thanks to the batting heroics of Pant, Gill, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and the bowling exploits of Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwin and Jadeja.
The second Test of the series begins in Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium on September 27, Friday.
IND vs BAN: Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill shared a 167-run partnership during the second innings of the Chennai Test. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
