Former cricketers Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh warned India not to underestimate Bangladesh ahead of their Test series, following Bangladesh’s historic victory over Pakistan.
India will face Bangladesh in the first Test of their two-match series starting September 19. Despite never having lost to Bangladesh in Test cricket, India should not underestimate their opponents, according to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh.
Bangladesh enters the series with significant confidence following their historic victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. In that match, Bangladesh secured their first-ever Test win against Pakistan. Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim played a pivotal role, scoring an impressive 191 runs in the first innings, which helped Bangladesh establish a strong position despite Pakistan’s nearly 450-run total. Bangladesh’s spinners then dismantled Pakistan in their second innings, dismissing them for just 146 runs and easily chasing down a modest target of 30 runs without losing a wicket.
Raina noted, “Now, a team for Tests will be formed. Top players playing Duleep Trophy is a nice initiative by the BCCI. You get to know a lot of things when you play red-ball cricket. You cannot take Bangladesh lightly as they have a fine spin bowling attack and some good players who have done well for a long time. This series will be a fine match practice for the tour to Australia.”
Harbhajan added, “It will be a great series. The Indian cricket team has been very capable and has potential. However, we can’t strike through Bangladesh as well; they have beaten Pakistan in the first Test match against Pakistan. Sometimes, smaller teams perform well in matches.”
The first Test will be played in Chennai, and the second Test in Kanpur. Both venues are known for pitches that assist spin bowlers, and with Bangladesh having a strong spin attack, the series promises to be an exciting contest.
Last Updated on August 30, 2024
