Indian captain Rohit Sharma recently emphasized that the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh is not just a precursor to the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia, which begins in November. Sharma highlighted that the series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19, is crucial in its own right and not merely a rehearsal for future challenges.
In a recent pre-match press conference, Sharma stressed the importance of treating each game with the seriousness it deserves. “No dress rehearsal. Every game is important. Doesn’t matter where we play. We want to win, want to win this Test and the series. Not looking too far ahead. It’s nice to have everyone back and start the season on a high,” said Rohit Sharma.
His comments underline the team’s focus on the present challenge rather than getting ahead of themselves with thoughts of the Australian series. India’s preparation for the Bangladesh series has been rigorous, with a training camp in Chennai commencing a week before the first Test. This camp has been vital for players to acclimate and fine-tune their skills.
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Key players, including the experienced Virat Kohli, have been actively involved in these sessions from the start. Sharma also mentioned the significance of this camp for players who were recently involved in the Duleep Trophy or who need time to readjust to the demands of Test cricket.
“We had a break. It’s important to have a camp. We had a good time spending on the field, getting this back together. It’s tough. Guys who didn’t play a lot played Duleep Trophy. We are quite ready for this game and what lies ahead. It was important to utilize this little camp in Chennai pretty well,” Rohit Sharma added.
Rohit Sharma’s remarks reflect the team’s commitment to ensuring they are well-prepared for the series, making the most of every opportunity to get back into the rhythm of Test cricket. With a packed schedule ahead, including ten matches culminating in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sharma’s approach highlights the importance of focusing on the immediate tasks at hand while laying a strong foundation for the challenges to come.
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India’s squad for the first Test versus Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (Wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
