Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain said on Wednesday (September 18), that they are not thinking too much about their opponent, India but they are focusing on their strengths, in preparation for the the two-match Test series, scheduled to begin in Chennai on September 19. India are clear favourites to win the series but the visitors are also in form. They are coming into the series on the back of a historic series win over Pakistan as well.

“I think it’s important to think about ourselves rather than thinking about opponents. What strengths we have. I believe we have the ability to play good cricket here. It’s important how we can play good cricket for five days. Every international team aims to win every match. We have the same goal as well that we will play to win,” Najmul told reporters ahead of the series opener on Wednesday.

“We will do what’s needed to win a match. We will worry about the result in the final session of the fifth day. Before that, we will try to play according to our strengths. We played very good cricket in Pakistan but now that is in the past. But as you mentioned, that gives us a lot of confidence. But we are here to play a new series and the dressing room believes that we can play very good cricket here. And we are not thinking about the outcome, we are just trying to follow our processes. If we can do well in these series, I think every team will want to play more matches with us. So this is a huge opportunity to see how good we can play here. I hope every team will be interested in playing with us after the way Bangladesh have been playing Test cricket,” he said.

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However, Najmul Hossain also said that there will be challenges coping with the SG ball but he has relied on his experienced squad to adapt to the situation as well. Notably, Bangladesh’s last series against Pakistan was played with Kookaburra balls as well.

“Challenges will be there (playing with SG balls). We practiced with SG balls in Bangladesh before coming here. We’ve had a few sessions here as well. So I think the batters have adjusted quite well already. And I think, there is nothing much to worry about balls because everyone has been playing international cricket for some time now and has the ability to adapt to such situations,” said Najmul.

“Regarding the wicket, from what I’ve seen, it should be a good wicket. Don’t want to talk much about pace or spin bowling. We will try to adapt to the wicket as quickly as possible tomorrow because I think we have a good balance of spin and pace. So there is nothing to worry much about. Obviously we have a very experienced spin bowling attack, but in the last couple of years we have had very good pace bowlers as well. I know they are not that experienced but they are capable. So I’m not thinking too much about spin or pace bowling. Whatever the condition gives us, we will adapt and I hope the players adapt very quickly, that will be good for the team,” he further added.

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However, Najmul Hossain is well aware of the attention new speedster Nahid Rana has been getting but that did not stop him from providing appreciation to the entire pace-bowing unit for the series win against Pakistan as well.

“Yes, he (Nahid Rana) is very exciting and the way he bowled against Pakistan. It’s really impressive and looks very nice. But I am not thinking about any individual player, I think all the fast bowlers did a great job in Pakistan. I feel the last couple of weeks they did really well. I hope they will do something good here and then as you mentioned Nahid Rana is a special bowler for us. We are not thinking too much about him. How I am going to use him according to the situation, I try to plan,” Najmul Hossain concluded.