Sun Sep 22 09:14:31 UTC 2024: ## Pant’s Century Marks Emotional Test Return in Chennai
**Chennai, India** – Rishabh Pant made a triumphant return to Test cricket with a brilliant century (109 off 128 balls) during India’s resounding victory against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. This marked his comeback to the red-ball format after a long hiatus due to a serious car accident in December 2022.
“100 was special because I love playing in Chennai,” Pant said after the match, highlighting his joy at returning to the city where he has always performed well. He expressed his desire to play all three formats of the game after recovering from his injury and stated that he aims to “get better every day.”
The wicketkeeper-batter, who was sidelined from cricket for a considerable time, also equalled MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian keeper. He added that he was “emotional” about his return to the field, emphasizing the “pleasure” he derived from playing Test cricket, the format where he feels he truly belongs.
Pant’s century, coupled with Shubman Gill’s 119, helped India recover from a shaky 67/3 to declare their second innings at 287/4, setting up a comfortable victory for the hosts. Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored a century in the first innings, took 6/88 to lead India to a 280-run win over Bangladesh.
The win highlighted Pant’s resurgence in Test cricket and his crucial contribution to India’s dominant victory. His return adds significant firepower to the Indian batting lineup, as they look ahead to future challenges in the Test arena.
First Piper 