'With Series Win Over Pakistan...'- Gavaskar Warns Rohit's India Of Bangladesh Threat
Rohit Sharma to play test after 6 months break (X)
Indian Veteran Sunil Gavaskar has sent a stern warning to Rohit Sharma and the Indian cricket team ahead of their two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Sunil Gavaskar has been a vocal observer of Men in Blue and cautioned the team against underestimating a rejuvenated Bangladesh side that recently made headlines as they whitewashed Pakistan in their own backyard.
Sunil Gavaskar's Stern Warning To Rohit Sharma And Co
In the recent development, Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the potential threat posed by Bangladesh and emphasised that they are no longer the underdogs they once were.
He pointed out that Bangladesh’s recent performances, particularly their historic 2-0 sweep of Pakistan demonstrate that they have evolved into a team capable of challenging top-tier opponents.
"By beating Pakistan in both the Test matches played in Pakistan, the Bangladesh team have shown that they are a force to reckon with. Even a couple of years back, when India toured Bangladesh, they were given a good fight by the Bangladeshis. Now with the series win against Pakistan under their belt, they are primed to take on India too," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
He also reminded and gave reference to several instances where the Bangladesh team had shocked India, which include the 2007 ICC World Cup, where they knocked India out of the tournament, and the 2012 Asia Cup, where they stunned India with a thrilling victory. He added:
"They have some fine players in their ranks and some new promising players who no longer have the awe of the opposition that seemed to characterise their early forays into the international game. Now, every team that play them know they can't put their guard down as they could be knocked down as the Pakistanis found out. It will certainly be a series to look forward to."
Why Is India Vs Bangladesh Series Important?
As India and Bangladesh prepare for this series, the stakes are high in the context of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). India currently tops the WTC standings with 74 points and a 68.52 win percentage, but they cannot afford to be complacent with Australia closely trailing.
Bangladesh, positioned at 4th place, is very much in the hunt for WTC points, especially after their commanding performance against Pakistan.
India must not take Bangladesh lightly, especially with so much at stake in the WTC. Bangladesh’s recent successes and their history of pulling off upsets against India make them a formidable opponent.