'It was not about runs for us...': Shubman Gill reveals his on-field conversation with Rishabh Pant during 167 run stand against Bangladesh

Indian star batter Shubman Gill, who smashed a century in the first Test match against Bangladesh alongside wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant, revealed that they were trying to dominate the visitors because they wanted to give their bowlers a certain amount of time.

Gill (119 not out) and Pant (109) helped India to score 167 runs for the fourth wicket helped India overnight 81/3, declare their second innings at 287 for 4 for an overall lead of 514. Pant took exactly 629 days to smash a century in the longest format of the game as he was out of action for more than a year due to a near-fatal accident in December 2022. 
 

“We spoke about trying to spend a little bit more time today of the extra moisture in the wicket. But once we played 3-4 overs, then we were trying to dominate because it was not really about runs for us at that point. It was more about how we wanted to give a certain amount of time for our bowlers to bowl,” said Gill in post-match conference. 
 

Gill reckoned that there will be more to come from Pant. “It’s probably going to be a feature for many years to come. Yeah, definitely,” added Gill. 

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“I have spent a lot of time with him on and off the field. Watching him score his first 50 and his first 100 after his comeback gives me so much pleasure because I have seen him work so hard for it when he was coming back from the injury. I think he also must be feeling really good” stated Gill. 

 

Bangladesh's ambitious 515-run chase was cut short by fading light on day four. Despite a determined effort, they concluded the day at 158 for four, facing a daunting task of 357 runs to secure a maiden Test win against India at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

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