Bangladesh batters will have to pull off a miracle in Chattogram to register their first Test win over India. After Kuldeep Yadav became first Indian bowler to take a fifer in Tests at Chattogram, Indian opener Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara scored centuries to set a huge target of 513.
In reply, Bangladesh openers got the run chase off to a decent start. No wickets fell in the 12 overs. Openers Najmul Hossain Shanto (25) and Zakir Hasan (17) hit three boundaries each and scored 42 runs during the twilight period.
Earlier in first session, Bangladesh lower-order batters could not do much damage in the first session. Axar Patel and Kuldeep took one wicket each to bundle out Bangladesh’s first innings for 150. On his comeback to the Test side, the left-arm chinaman bowler took five wickets for 40 runs.
Skipper KL Rahul decided not to take a chance and enforce follow-on. Rahul could not shrug off his lean patch either and got out after scoring 23 runs from 62 deliveries. The stand-in skipper Rahul shared a 70-run partnership with Gill. Pacer Khaled Ahmed broke the opening partnership.
Gill got to his half-century in the second session. Cheteshwar Pujara took his time while Gill accelerated and got to his maiden Test century with a boundary from 147 deliveries. Gill could not carry on and lost his wicket to Mehidy after hitting him for a six. He scored 110 runs from 152 deliveries including 10 fours and three sixes. He shared a 113-run partnership for the second wicket with Pujara. Also, this is the first century by an Indian opener in the format in 2022.
With Virat Kohli at the other end, Pujara unleashed his attacking side and took on the spinners, finding boundaries every other over. He got to his half-century from 87 deliveries. He needed another 43 deliveries to get to the three figures and end his century drought that lasted 52 innings. It is also his fastest Test ton by far.
As soon as Pujara got to his much-awaited century, Rahul declared the innings for 258/2. Pujara scored at an impressive strike rate of 78.46. He took 130 deliveries to score 102 runs which included 13 boundaries. On the other end, Kohli remained unbeaten for 19 off 29 deliveries. The two batters shared an unbeaten 75-run stand for the third wicket where Pujara did the bulk of scoring.
