"I was trying to save my bat" - Gill on routine of punching bats and gloves twice during stand with Pant on Day 3 of IND vs BAN 2024 Test 

Team India batter Shubman Gill quipped that he was worried about his bat as Rishabh Pant hit his willow hard during their partnership on Day 3 of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. The 25-year-old explained that he was trying to save his bat since it's an old one.

Both Gill and Pant hammered hundreds on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, September 21. While the former struck an unbeaten 119 off 176 balls, the latter scored 109 off 128 deliveries. During their 167-run stand, the duo followed a routine of punching gloves and bats twice.

At the press conference following the end of the third day's play at Chepauk, Gill was asked about the story behind the interesting practice that they followed out in the middle. The right-handed batter replied:

"Nothing, I was telling him to not (do it) because I am playing with a bat that I played in the England series. So, my bat is quite old actually and he was hitting my bat so hard. I was telling him, you know... I was trying to save my bat actually. If he didn't middle it, he would say, 'let's do it again'.

The ton was special for Pant as he is playing in his first Test since his car accident in December 2022. Reacting to the southpaw's amazing comeback, Gill said:

"I have spent a lot of time with him on and off the field. Watching him score his first fifty and first hundred after his comeback gives me so much pleasure because I have seen him work so hard for it. I think he also must be feeling really good."

The partnership between Gill and Pant was broken when the latter chipped a return catch to Bangladesh off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 56th over of India's second innings.

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"It's a pretty good wicket to still bat on" - Gill looks ahead to Day 4 in Chennai

India are in a completely dominant position in the Chepauk Test. Having declared their second innings on 287-4, they reduced Bangladesh to 158-4 by stumps on Day 3. The hosts need another six wickets for victory, while Bangladesh need to score a further 357 runs.

Asked for his assessment of the surface heading into the last two days of the Test, Gill replied:

"It's a pretty good wicket to still bat on. The odd balls are turning, but I don't think there is much happening for fast bowlers. As we saw in the first innings, there was a lot more happening for fast bowlers. Yesterday, it was pretty hot and the moisture went out of the wicket. We might see a little bit of turn if the sun comes out."

At stumps on Day 3 of the first India vs Bangladesh Test, Najmul Hossain Shanto was batting on 51 and Shakib Al Hasan on five.