As the Bangladesh team travels to India next month to play a two-match Test series, former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh said there is no scope for complacency at all. Though Bangladesh have never beaten India in the longest format of the game, recent performances by them say they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side is coming off a historic win against Pakistan-their first-ever Test victory over their neighbors earlier this month.
It was a sobering victory, one that would remind several teams that Bangladesh was the force to be feared, even against some of the top teams like India. Suresh Raina voiced support for the BCCI’s decision to include most senior India cricketers in the Duleep Trophy starting later this month.
“The Duleep Trophy is great match practice,” said Raina, “even more so in red-ball cricket, that too turning out to be quite vital in the series against Bangladesh and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. This Duleep Trophy allows players to get their act together in the longer format, and these matches against Bangladesh will be a great dress rehearsal for the more serious battles to be fought in Australia.”
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Suresh Raina underlined the need to take the Bangladesh team seriously with its strong spin attack and seasoned players. Harbhajan Singh chimed in with similar sentiments. He referred to Bangladesh’s thumping win over Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test. He called upon the Indian team not to make their opponents a guest and remain alert all the time.
“It will be a competitive series. Whereas the Indian team is incredibly capable, they have to understand that Bangladesh have shown themselves by beating Pakistan. Sometimes, so-called smaller teams can stand up to these pressure situations and turn out to be of great performance, ” the former off-spinner said.
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The series starts with the first Test at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, September 19, that will be followed by the second Test at Green Park in Kanpur on Friday, September 27. Bangladesh, who are wrapping up their Test series against Pakistan, will look to take the momentum into the India tour as they will be eager to register a rare Test series win overseas.
