Rishabh Pant marked his return to Test cricket with a century as India closed in on a comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai.
Pant, playing his first Test since a serious car crash in December 2022, scored 109 from 128 balls in India’s second-innings total of 287-4 declared.
That set Bangladesh a massive target of 515 for victory and Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored a crucial century on day one, took three wickets to leave the Tigers 158-4.
Pant began the day 12 not out, his side 81-3, and put on 167 with Shubman Gill, who also scored a hundred with an unbeaten 119.
Left-hander Pant was dropped on 72 by Najmul Hossain Shanto but struck 13 fours and four sixes in making his sixth Test ton.
He scored all around the wicket but was particularly strong in powering three of his sixes down the ground off Bangladesh’s spinners.
The 26-year-old made his return to cricket in this year’s Indian Premier League and was part of the India squad that won the T20 World Cup in June.
He required reconstructive surgery on a ligament in his right knee following his crash in which he “dozed off” and lost control of his car. His vehicle flipped twice and also caught fire.
At the time, reports in India stated Pant also suffered injuries to his back and head.
On reaching three figures he calmly removed his helmet and looked to the skies in celebration.