India vs Bangladesh: Rishabh Pant equals MS Dhoni's record with 6th Test hundred

India vs Bangladesh, Chennai Test: Rishabh Pant celebrated his Test comeback with his sixth Test hundred in the second innings of the first Test. Pant equaled MS Dhoni's record of most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper.

In Short

• Rishabh Pant celebrates his comeback with sixth Test hundred
• Pant equals Dhoni's record of most Test hundreds by Indian wicketkeeper
• Pant was dismissed after scoring 109 on Day 3 of the Chennai Test

Rishabh Pant is back, and it's like he never left in the first place. The Indian wicketkeeper marked his comeback to Test cricket with a blistering century against Bangladesh in the second innings of the first Test in Chennai. Pant's sixth Test century has placed him alongside former captain MS Dhoni for the most hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket. While Dhoni reached this milestone in 90 Tests, Pant has matched the record in just 34 red-ball appearances.

IND vs BAN, 1st Test, Day 3: Live Updates | Full Scorecard

When Rishabh Pant walked in at No. 5 during India's first innings, the team was in trouble at 34/3. It was a familiar situation for Pant, known for his aggressive stroke play and ability to rescue India from precarious positions. He quickly steadied the ship, forming a 62-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal and contributing a well-paced 39 off 52 balls. Yet, right after lunch, a moment of over-aggression led to his downfall, nicking a delivery to the wicketkeeper.

Pant's dismissal felt like a missed opportunity, but the second innings offered a chance for redemption-and he seized it magnificently. Coming in during the 20th over with India facing another collapse at 83/3 and the dismissal of Virat Kohli for 17, Pant arrived at a critical juncture. The team still had a strong 227-run lead, but the loss of early wickets had opened up an opportunity for Bangladesh. Pant needed to balance aggression with caution, something he had struggled with at times in his career. This time, however, he rose to the challenge with a composed and mature approach.

Partnering with Shubman Gill, Pant navigated the tense final session of Day 2, resisting the temptation to throw his wicket away. His patience was particularly evident when play resumed on Day 3. Opting for restraint rather than his usual flamboyance, Pant played with an awareness that his wicket had a high price. In the first hour, he focused on consolidating India's position, respecting the conditions and the bowling attack.

Most Test 100s by designated wicketkeepers for India

6 Rishabh Pant (58 inngs)
6 MS Dhoni (144 inngs)
3 Wriddhiman Saha (54 inngs)

His half-century, which came off 88 balls, was slower than his usual knocks but reflective of his growth as a player. Pant knew when to accelerate and when to bide his time, showcasing a side of his game that has often been overlooked. His discipline didn't last long, however. As the match progressed, Pant pounced on loose deliveries, carefully selecting when to open up, turning the pressure back on Bangladesh.

As the forecast for rain loomed, Pant and Gill began to shift gears. With half-centuries under their belts, they capitalized on Bangladesh's flagging morale. Boundaries flowed as batting conditions eased, and Pant effortlessly transitioned from his early defensive mindset into an attacking one, hammering the Bangladesh bowlers.

By the time Pant reached his century off 124 balls, India's lead had grown to a commanding 432 runs, and Bangladesh's hopes were all but extinguished. Pant was eventually dismissed for 109, caught and bowled by Mehidy Hasan.