Rishabh Pant marked his return to Test cricket with a century as India moved closer to a comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai.

Pant, playing his first Test since a serious car accident in December 2022, scored 109 off 128 balls in the second innings that saw India’s total reach 287-4.

This set Bangladesh an ambitious target of 515 for victory and Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored a crucial century on the first day, took three wickets to finish the Tigers on 158-4.

Pant began the day with 12 not out, his side had a record of 81-3 and scored 167 along with Shubman Gill, who also scored a hundred with an unbeaten 119.

The left-hander Pant was dismissed by Najmul Hossain Shanto on 72 but hit 13 fours and four sixes to reach his sixth Test ton.

He scored points around the wicket but was particularly strong when he hit three of his sixes in the deep against the Bangladesh spinners.

The 26-year-old returned to cricket this year in the Indian Premier League and was part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in June.

He had to undergo reconstructive surgery on a ligament in his right knee following his accident, in which he “nodded off” and lost control of his car. His vehicle rolled over twice and caught fire.

Reports from India at the time said that Pant also suffered injuries to his back and head.

When he reached the third number, he calmly took off his helmet and looked up to the sky in jubilation.