Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill were the toast of the visitors’ victory in the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chattogram of the two-Test series. India defeated the hosts by 188 runs after setting a 513-run target.

Pujara made 90 and 102* in the Test match and his century was a special one for him because it was his first Test ton since against Australia in Sydney in 2019. He had gone with a Test century for 52 innings and 1443 days and was even dropped from the side earlier in the year for inconsistent performance.

But he got his form and mojo back in English county cricket and made a triumphant return to the Indian side.

“It was special, I never felt that I will get to the three-figure mark in the second innings by tea break. I was close to 50, but I never realised there was enough time to get to the three-figure mark. It went really well, I have been practicing some shots that helped me this game. For me, the first innings was more special when I missed out on a hundred but it was important for the team,” Pujara said in a video shared by the BCCI.

BAN v IND 2022: Rohit Sharma ruled out of second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka – Report

He was also all praises for young Shubman Gill, who scored his maiden Test century after 22 innings with the bat for India. Gills scored 110 in the second innings, helping India put up a huge target for Bangladesh to chase.

Pujara said: “It was an ideal situation for him to keep accelerating, play his natural shots, and he kept going the way he normally bats. So it was very important for him, and yes he has also been waiting for the three-figure mark. The first Test hundred is always a special one. And he eventually got that. He also has some nineties (smiles) and he has waited for it for quite some time. So felt good for him.”

Gill hit 10 4s and three 6s in his knock and said it was a special moment for him to get to his maiden century and more so because it was in the second innings.

Gill said: “It felt amazing finally to get my first Test century. And especially a second-inning Test century is always special. I was also talking to some of the players inside the dressing room that I haven’t got my first century, though I have played 12 matches, so this was a very special moment for me.

There was a lot of ease batting with Pujji bhai. And because our dynamics and our game is a bit different so bowlers are required to have different plans and challenge us.”

Meanwhile, stand-in captain KL Rahul lauded Gill for his innings and also was pleased to have his first Test win, though he couldn’t do so against South Africa in Johannesburg earlier in 2022.

“Really happy for Shubman. He has been close to that 100 for a few times but missed out, and yeah really happy that he got his first hundred.

“New term that's come up…”: Ishant Sharma opposes concept of workload management in Indian cricket

Feels good that the game is over and I have another victory as a captain. Obviously would have wanted to win my first game as a captain, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen in Jo’burg. This win was important for us and like anybody else, the first win feels sweet, and hopefully, we can build on this, and the focus will be on the next game now and try to win the series,” Rahul said.

Here is the video:

(BCCI inputs)