India set a 515-run target for Bangladesh

India declared their second innings at 287-4, setting a daunting target of 515 runs for Bangladesh with two and a half days remaining in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Day 3.

Shubman Gill, unbeaten on 119, completed his fifth Test century, while Rishabh Pant scored an impressive 109 off 128 balls, extending India’s lead well beyond 500.

For Bangladesh, Mehedi Hasan Miraz claimed two wickets, while pacers Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana took one wicket each.

India had resumed play at 81-3 in the morning, with Pant and Gill remaining unscathed throughout the first session, adding 124 runs to stretch India’s lead past 400.

After lunch, Pant was dismissed by Miraz, having completed his century, while Gill stayed unbeaten.

Bangladesh, bowled out for just 149 in their first innings, now face an enormous challenge as they begin their pursuit of the 515-run target in the final innings of the match.

Miraz dismisses century-maker Pant:

Mehedi Hasan Miraz removed Rishabh Pant shortly after the left-hander reached his sixth Test century, leaving India at 234-4 with a lead of 461 runs in the second session of Day 3. Pant, who scored 109 off 127 balls, was caught off a return catch by Miraz, ending a 167-run partnership with Shubman Gill, who remained at 88 not out at the time.

KL Rahul joined Gill at the crease as India continued to build their lead.

Pant survives as India take lead past 400:

Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to create opportunities as overnight batters Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill helped India extend their lead beyond 400 runs on Day 3 of the first Test.

India reached 205-3 after 51 overs, leading by 432 runs at lunch. Pant remained unbeaten on 82, while Gill notched up 86 not out.

However, Bangladesh missed a crucial chance when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped Pant on 72 after a mistimed slog sweep off Shakib Al Hasan’s bowling.

Both Pant and Gill batted aggressively, putting together an unbeaten 138-run stand for the fourth wicket. Gill, using his feet to counter the spinners, struck Mehedi Hasan Miraz for two sixes in an over, reaching his seventh Test fifty with the second maximum.

Pant, after a slow start, accelerated his innings and smashed a one-handed six over long-off. He brought up his 12th Test fifty, scoring boundaries with cheeky shots, including reverse sweeps and slog sweeps off Shakib’s bowling, adding two more boundaries before the lunch break.

Gill, Pant extend India's massive lead:

Resuming Day 3 on 81-3, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill extended India’s lead to 356 runs against Bangladesh. India reached 129-3 after 38 overs in their second innings, following Bangladesh’s dismissal for a mere 149 runs in 47.1 overs in their first innings.

Gill played the aggressor, hitting Mehedi Hasan Miraz for two sixes to reach his seventh Test fifty, while Shakib Al Hasan, now the oldest Bangladeshi Test player at 37 years and 181 days, is yet to make an impact.

Gill and Pant added 62 runs in their unbroken fourth-wicket stand as Bangladesh continued to search for a breakthrough.