In a rare and amusing turn of events during the third day of the Chennai Test, Rishabh Pant, known for his explosive batting, played an unexpected role — as a fielding consultant for Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.

The incident occurred while India were firmly in control, with Bangladesh staring at a colossal 515-run target in the fourth innings, a feat never achieved in Test cricket.

While preparing to face a delivery, Pant noticed a gap in the Bangladesh field setup and couldn't resist giving Shanto some advice. In fluent Hindi, Pant casually suggested, "Put a fielder here; you're one short on this side," pointing to the leg side. Amusingly, Shanto obliged and repositioned a fielder at mid-wicket.

Pant's fielding suggestion is reminiscent of the time legendary Indian wicket-keeper MS Dhoni did something similar in the 2019 ODI World Cup. Facing Bangladesh, Dhoni pointed out an awkward field placement to Sabbir Rahman, prompting the bowler to pause and adjust his field without consulting the then-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

Despite Pant's on-field antics, it was his brilliant batting that solidified India's dominance. Following his 39-run knock in the first innings, he smashed a century in the second, scoring 109 and ensuring India set Bangladesh an improbable target. Alongside Pant, Shubman Gill also contributed significantly with an unbeaten 119.

As the day ended, Bangladesh found themselves at 158/4, with Najmul Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan fighting to salvage the game. Earlier in the innings, India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin took crucial wickets, ensuring India maintained their upper hand.