India captain Rohit Sharma addressed the media in Chennai on Tuesday, ahead of the 1st Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which starts on Thursday. After a 45-day break, Team India is ready to return to action, while Bangladesh enters the series with momentum, having recently secured a 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan.
However, Rohit acknowledged that playing in India would present Bangladesh with a significantly tougher challenge, as India currently leads the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
When questioned about Bangladesh’s recent success, Rohit offered a composed response. He remarked that every team enjoys the challenge of defeating India but emphasized that India is focused on their own game. “Everyone wants to beat India; they take pride in that. Let them enjoy it. We are here to win, and that’s what matters. We don’t concern ourselves with what others say about us. When England came here, they had a lot to say, but we didn’t pay much attention. Our goal is to play good cricket and deliver results,” Rohit said during the press conference.
Bangladesh Coach Sees India Series as a True Test of Strength
On the other side, Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, expressed excitement about playing against India, one of the world’s strongest cricket teams. He noted that facing a top-tier team like India provides his players with an opportunity to gauge their international standing.
“Playing the best team in the world gives you a clear sense of where you stand. As athletes, we look forward to such challenges,” Hathurusingha remarked.
When asked about the pressure following Bangladesh’s Test series whitewash of Pakistan, Hathurusingha acknowledged that the victories had boosted team morale but emphasized that his squad is well aware of its capabilities. Bangladesh will also play three T20Is against India following the two-Test series, with the first match set for October 6.
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