India has proven to be an almost invincible force in home Test matches since the COVID-19 pandemic, having played 18 Tests and securing victories in 13 of them. They have suffered only three losses, with two games ending in draws. This dominant form has seen them overcome some of the best teams in the world, including Australia, England, and New Zealand.
Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, is well aware of the formidable challenge that lies ahead as his team gears up for the second Test against the Rohit Sharma-led side in Kanpur. Bangladesh was handed a heavy defeat in the opening Test, losing by 280 runs in Chennai.
Reflecting on the loss, Shakib acknowledged India’s exceptional prowess in home conditions, pointing out that almost every team struggles to compete with them in red-ball cricket on their home turf. Drawing a comparison with Pakistan, Shakib noted that the Shan Masood-led Pakistan side was relatively young and lacked the experience necessary to tackle the challenges posed by the Indian team.
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“I think Pakistan is a relatively young and inexperienced team. If you look at the matches they’ve played and compare it to our team, we have more experience, and in Test cricket, that’s a massive factor,” Shakib Al Hasan remarked, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
He further emphasized the sheer difficulty of winning against India at home, stating, “India is the number one team at the moment and is probably unbeatable at home. They are performing well overseas too, but on home soil, they are nearly invincible. Any team that comes here finds it tough to win, and we are no exception. To challenge them, we need to play exceptionally well and put up a strong fight. I believe India is the toughest tour these days. Other teams might lose one or two games, but India hardly loses Tests.”
‘They are unbeatable,’ says Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan about India ahead of second Test
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Reflecting on the first Test, Shakib Al Hasan expressed his disappointment with Bangladesh’s batting performance in the first innings, but he was encouraged by their efforts in the second. He admitted that finishing the match in just three days was far from ideal and believes his team is capable of better.
“I think in patches we played well in Chennai, but finishing the match in three and a half days isn’t ideal for us. We felt we are a better team than that. Tomorrow is another opportunity, and we need to show our potential in Kanpur,” he explained.
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Shakib Al Hasan concluded by stressing the importance of a stronger batting performance, saying, “In the first innings, we were bowled out for 150, but we improved in the second to score around 250. In the next Test, if we can get to 350 or beyond, it will be a massive boost for us. Scoring 350 to 400 in the first innings will give us a lot of confidence and strengthen our position.”
