New Delhi, India

India thrashed Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test, in Chennai, with R Ashwin shining with match figures of 6 for 117 and a brilliant 113. Along with him, there were many performers for India, with Ravindra Jadeja slamming an impressive 86, and adding 199 runs for the seventh wicket with Ashwin in the first innings, whereas Shubman Gill (119) and Rishabh Pant (109) also scored a century each in the second essay after Rohit Sharma-led hosts' 227-run lead. Chasing 515, Najmul Shanto-led Bangla Tigers folded for 234 to lose by a big margin. 

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Among the top performers, Pant stood out as he was on a Test return. Since his comeback to the national side, after battling injuries in a horrific car crash in December 2022, the left-hander has been part of India's white-ball squad, but many awaited his Test return, given his red-ball success. On seeing him slam his sixth Test ton on comeback, former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram hailed the 26-year-old and called him a 'miracle kid'.

Speaking at a media interaction, as quoted by Hindustan Times, Akram said that people in Pakistan were concerned for the wicketkeeper after he got involved in a horrific accident in 2022. The legendary pacer, however, stated that he is in awe of how Pant bounced back and has performed since his return to competitive cricket (which happened in IPL 2024). 

Also read: Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test

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'He is superhuman by returning from his tragedy'

Akram said, "Look at Pant’s performance, the miracle that he has performed by showing he is superhuman by returning from his tragedy. The way his accident happened, we were all worried in Pakistan, I was worried and tweeted about him. He came back and averaged 40 in the IPL, 446 runs at a strike rate of 155, he’s a miracle kid."

Hailing Pant, Akram further pointed out the way he plays Test cricket and how he has managed to dominate bowlers such as James Anderson and Pat Cummins in his short career.

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"Especially what he has been through in that horrific accident, coming back from that, how mentally strong must that boy be? The way he used to play in Test cricket, the way he performed in Australia with the century then (in 2018/19). The way he batted against England, playing a reverse-sweep against Anderson in Test cricket, even Cummins. He’s special," the former Pakistan captain added.

Since his return, Pant ended IPL 2024 with 446 runs at a strike rate of 155.40. He was part of Rohit-led India's victorious squad in the 2024 T20 World Cup. While he didn't have a great run at the mega event, he announced his return in Tests with a sublime 109 in Chennai, laced with 13 fours and 4 sixes.