[Watch] Rishabh Pant performs 'Puja' of his bat before start of play on Day 3 of IND vs BAN 1st Test 2024

Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant performed a 'Puja' of his bat before the start of play on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai on Saturday, September 21. The 26-year-old was unbeaten on 12 at the end of the second day with India on 81/3 with an overall lead of 308 runs.

Playing his first Test match since December 2022, Pant scored a crucial 39 in the first innings with India in trouble at 34/3. However, he played a needless shot to throw away his solid start.

Incidentally, Pant's last Test outing before the ongoing fixture also came against Bangladesh in Mirpur in December 2022.

As India looked to continue their domination on Day 3, here is a video of Pant performing a Puja for his bat minutes before the start of play:

Pant's prayers were answered in style as he finished the first session of Day 3 on 82* off 108 deliveries. The southpaw combined with Shubman Gill (86*) to take India's score to a commanding 205/3 at Lunch.

His knock has included nine fours and three sixes with a sixth Test century only 18 runs away.

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Rishabh Pant's belligerence helps India take control of 1st Bangladesh Test

Rishabh Pant's heroics have helped Team India seize complete control of the first Test against Bangladesh.

After struggling at 144/6 in the first innings on Day 1, the hosts posted a competitive 376, thanks to a brilliant century from Ravichandran Ashwin and valuable half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja.

The bowlers then delivered a masterclass on Day 2 to restrict the visitors to a paltry 149 in their first essay. India's top-order struggled again to be reduced to 67/3 before the Gill-Pant partnership effectively put Bangladesh out of the contest.

Both batters in their 80s will be looking to reach three figures before India accelerates the scoring further and possibly looks for a declaration later in the day.