After a commanding whitewash of Pakistan, the Bangladesh cricket team is riding high on confidence as they prepare to take on India in a two-match Test series. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, while congratulating Bangladesh for their performance, also reminded everyone of India’s strength ahead of the first Test match starting on Thursday, September 19.
In a pre-match press conference, Gambhir acknowledged Bangladesh’s recent form and their dominance over Pakistan. He stated, “I congratulate Bangladesh for their performance against Pakistan. But this is a new series with a new opponent. For us, it’s crucial to play our best cricket, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
Bangladesh’s current squad is a well-balanced blend of youth and experience. Renowned Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle even claimed this is the strongest Bangladesh team ever, led by seasoned players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Gambhir, aware of the strength in Bangladesh’s pace bowling, has urged his players, including Virat Kohli, to be cautious from the very first ball.
Gambhir also recognized the wealth of experience within the Bangladesh team, stating, “Bangladesh has experienced players like Shakib and Mushfiqur. They have a solid bowling attack with Mehidy. Clearly, there’s talent in Bangladesh. We need to be vigilant from the very first ball.”
Despite Bangladesh’s recent success, Gambhir emphasized that India will not be overly concerned with their opposition. “We’ll focus on playing the kind of cricket we want to play. Great teams don’t worry about their opponents; they control the game and dictate terms. We respect Bangladesh, but our approach will remain the same.”
With this being Gambhir’s first Test series as India’s head coach, there was curiosity about whether he would introduce a revolutionary approach like Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” with England. However, Gambhir downplayed such speculation, saying, “I’ve always believed the best style is the one that helps the team win. We want to be the kind of team that adapts quickly and masters different conditions. Our goal is to assess the situation and play accordingly.”
The first Test between Bangladesh and India is set to be an exciting clash, with both teams looking to assert their dominance.
