The swashbuckling Rishabh Pant asserted that Test cricket is 'where I belong the most' after marking his return to his favourite format with a sensational hundred in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.
Pant hit his sixth Test century, his first since returning to competitive cricket after recovering from injuries he suffered in a horrific car accident in December 2022, on the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh.
Pant and Shubman Gill smashed centuries in India's second innings as they set Bangladesh an improbable target of 515, but the visitors fell way short of the mark after being bowled out for 234 in their second innings at Chepauk.
"100 was special because I love playing in Chennai. After injury I wanted to play all three formats and this was my first Test. Hope to get better every day," Pant said after the India's 280-run win, to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
"It was emotional, I wanted to score each and every match which didn't happen but wanted to do well in Tests, which is where I belong the most. Being on the field gives me pleasure more than anything else."
"I am always nervous before matches, even after hitting a hundred. And this time I was playing after two years, so nervousness there," he added.
Playing in the manner that defines his batting, Pant struck a fluent 109 off 128 balls, lacing his innings with 13 fours and four sixes. The wicketkeeper-batter added 167 runs for the fourth wicket with Gill (119 off 176 balls) and helped lift India from 67/3 to 287/4 declared in their second essay.
"I don't know what people say outside but I try to read the situation in my own way. When you are 30/3, you need to stitch a partnership. That's what Gill and I did.
"To do it with a guy who I have a great relationship with is special," Pant said.
Pant left everyone stunned as he helped Bangladesh set their field despite being on strike. The stump mic caught him instructing, 'One fielder here,' while gesturing toward midwicket, prompting Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to send a player to that position.
"Level of cricket should always be better, as Ajai ji says, so I told them to set a fielder. Two were standing in same position," Pant said.
On day three, after a rather sedate first session, Pant accelerated the run scoring post lunch.
"After lunch, there was discussion about declaration. Rohit bhai said you guys have one hour to do whatever you want to score run. So I thought let's try to make 150."
He also hit his trademark one-handed six.
"I try that flow does not change. I try body weight gets transferred to shot, so I leave that one hand," Pant added.
After Pant and Gill's exploits with the bat, local boy Ravichandran Ashwin completed a memorable all-round outing with a six-wicket haul as a dominant India crushed the visitors with more than five sessions to spare.
First-innings centurion Ashwin did the bulk of the damage as he took 6/88, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up 3/58.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with an 82 off 127 balls.
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