IMAGES from day 3 of the 1st Test between Bangladesh and India played in Chottogram on Friday.
Shubman Gill scored his maiden Test century while Cheteshwar Pujara finally ended a four-year wait for his 19th hundred as India set Bangladesh a stiff victory target of 513 runs on the third day of the series-opener in Chattogram on Friday.
For the second day in succession, Bangladesh were completely outplayed as Kuldeep Yadav's career-best 5 for 40 helped India dismiss the hosts for a paltry 150 in just 55.5 overs.
With nearly three days at their disposal and a lead of 254, India captain KL Rahul decided against enforcing the follow-on as Gill (110) and Pujara (102 not out) took full advantage of a toothless Bangladesh attack that also missed its lead pacer Ebadot Hossain due to a back-injury.
The moment Pujara exorcised the ghosts of the last four years with the completion of his fastest Test hundred, skipper Rahul declared the Indian second innings closed at 258 for 2.
At stumps, Bangladesh were 42 for no loss on a track where a lot of balls are indeed keeping low but the pitch hasn't shown considerable wear and tear. The hosts still require 471 runs to win the match.
However, to bat for 180 overs over two days will be an improbable task for the Bangladesh batting line-up against the Indian bowling line-up.
Stand-in skipper Rahul, who holed out at the fine leg boundary off a well-laid short ball trap by Khaled Ahmed (1/52 in 13 overs), would rue that he missed a chance to get a big score under his belt.
However, Gill, blessed with gift of exquisite timing, pounced on a depleted Bangladesh attack, hitting 10 boundaries and three sixes -- one off pacer Khaled and one each of Litton's part-time spin and Mehidy Hasan Miraz after reaching his three-figure mark.
Gill's attacking batting also allowed Pujara to take his time at the beginning. He accelerated towards the back-end of the Indian innings as he had 13 boundaries to show for his efforts.
But there could be no debate about which innings would be rated higher in terms of aesthetics. It certainly would be 23-year-old Punjab man, who at times would give a languid vibe in his effortless strokeplay.
He used the sweep to good effect against the off-spin of Miraz and the reverse sweep against left-arm spin of Taijul.
He repeatedly came down the track to loft the spinners and disturb their length. He converted a lot of good length balls into half-volleys while any width from pacers or deliveries drifting down the leg-side were also met with utter disdain.
Gill however would consider himself lucky as he was twice adjudged leg-before by the on-field umpires but DRS ruled it not out. Another time when Bangladesh went for review, the DRS didn't work.
Buoyed by his 90 in the first innings, Pujara was a picture of supreme confidence and this Bangladesh attack never had the wherewithal to dismiss him with literally no scoreboard pressure on India.
While his first fifty came off 87 balls, he raced to his next 50 in just 43 balls, answering anyone and everyone who keep on questioning his intent. If the first 50 runs had five fours, the second was laced with eight boundaries as he added 113 runs for the second wicket with Gill.
The relief was palpable when he hit Taijul Islam for a boundary and got a warm hug from Virat Kohli (19 not out) at the other end.
Earlier, talented opener Shubman Gill closed in on his maiden Test century as India consolidated their lead.
Gill, who survived two on-field LBW decisions, took his chances and displayed his array of shots to help India reach 140 for 1 at tea.
Gill was unbeaten on 80 while Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 33 as the duo shared an unfinished 70-run stand for the second wicket.
Skipper KL Rahul was the only wicket to fall in the post lunch session.
Gill went for his shots -- playing the cut, the slog sweep, the pull and the flick off the pads to pick up boundaries.
Rahul, on the other hand, continued with his cautious approach.
The solid-looking 64-run opening stand was finally broken by Khaleed Ahmed as Rahul pulled a short delivery only to find Taijul Islam at fine leg boundary.
Rahul scored 23 off 62 balls with the help of three boundaries.
The wicket hardly deterred Gill in the post-lunch session as he often danced down the wicket to off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraj to find the boundaries.
Gill brought up his fifty in the 26th over with a single off Miraj.
In the next over, Gill clobbered a Khaleed short delivery over the square-leg boundary to bring up India's first six of the innings.
While Gill went for his shots, Pujara on the other hand was rock solid and went about his business in quiet fashion.
Pujara too preferred to come down the track against the spinners.
Skipper KL Rahul and young Shubman Gill were cautious in their approach as India reached 36 for no loss in their second innings at lunch after Kuldeep Yadav's third five-wicket haul helped them dismiss Bangladesh for a paltry 150 on the third day of the opening Test in Chattogram on Friday.
Rahul (20 batting) and Gill (15 batting) didn't take any undue risks as India's overall lead swelled to 290 after the Indian captain decided against enforcing the follow-on.
Playing his first Test match in 22 months, Kuldeep registered career-best figures of five for 40 as Bangladesh could survive only 55.5 overs in their first innings.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj (3/20 in 13 overs) deserved equal credit for his incisive spells on the second afternoon and evening.
With a lot of deliveries keeping low in the second Indian innings, the spin troika of Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep and Axar Patel will be eager to come out on the fourth and fifth day to ensure full 12 World Test Championship points for the team.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan introduced fellow slow left-arm orthodox Taijul Islam in the very second over of the Indian second innings with pacer Ebadot Hossain complaining of back pain.
Being a bowler short will also badly hurt Bangladesh's plans, if Ebadot is unable to bowl further in the contest.
While Gill stepped out once and also survived an on-field leg-before decision courtesy DRS, Rahul was solid in his defence at the other end as he hardly attacked the bowling save one cover driven four in Khaled Ahmed's opening over and a drive through point off Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
At the start of the day, Kuldeep completed his third five-wicket haul when Ebadot (17)'s 37-ball vigil ended when his faint tickle down the leg-side was smartly snapped by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
It was Mehidy (25 batting), who fought doggedly and played the maximum number of balls (82) but had little support at other end before he became Axar Patel's only victim of the innings.
