 |
|
The first Test match between India and Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai witnessed a stellar performance from Shubman Gill, who smashed his fifth Test century and the second one against Bangladesh in the series. This remarkable feat further cemented Gill's reputation as a reliable performer in the second innings of Test matches. Coming off a duck in the first innings, Gill made amends with a masterful display of batting prowess in the second innings.
On the third day of the match, Gill achieved a significant milestone, becoming only the second Indian No.3, after former captain and head coach Rahul Dravid, to score a Test century at the Chidambaram Stadium. In 35 Tests in Chennai, Dravid had been the only No.3 to score a century before Gill joined him on Saturday. Gill reached his milestone with a single off Bangladesh off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and acknowledged the crowd with his signature bow. He remained unbeaten on 119 off 176 balls as India declared their second innings on 285/4, setting Bangladesh a daunting target of 515 runs.
Gill's innings were characterized by his control and dominance, showcasing a distinct improvement in his second innings performance. His ability to adapt to the new ball towards the end of the second day's play highlighted his growing confidence and experience. The second innings have become a consistent strong point for Gill in his Test career, as evidenced by his remarkable record of scoring a fifty-plus score in each of his last five second innings knocks. His scores in those five innings were 119, 104, 91, 52, and 86*, further solidifying his reputation as a valuable asset in the later stages of a Test match.
Gill's second innings average of 49.11 is significantly higher than his career average of 36.72. Furthermore, his average in the third innings of a match is an impressive 55.80, highlighting his consistency in pressure situations. Three out of his five Test centuries have been scored in the third innings of a Test match. Gill's impressive performance was further amplified by a 167-run partnership for the fourth wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who also struck a century on his return to Test cricket after a two-year gap. This partnership effectively put Bangladesh out of the contest, ensuring India's control over the Test match.