Sunil Gavaskar Warns India: Bangladesh a Formidable Opponent in Upcoming Test Series

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Historical Context and Recent Performance

As India prepares to face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has issued a stern warning to the Rohit Sharma-led team. Gavaskar emphasized that Bangladesh, fresh from their historic 2-0 series win over Pakistan, is a force to be reckoned with.

"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.

Talent and Fearlessness of Bangladesh Team

Gavaskar highlighted the presence of talented players in the Bangladesh squad, including promising newcomers who no longer feel intimidated by their opponents. "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 plays them knows 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," he added.

Past Encounters and Current Form

Bangladesh has a history of providing tough competition to India. In their last Test encounter in December 2022 in Dhaka, Bangladesh came agonizingly close to securing their first-ever Test win against India. Despite ultimately losing, Bangladesh's performance underscored their growing capabilities.

Upcoming Test Series Details

The first Test of the series began on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, followed by the second Test at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. Both matches are part of the ongoing 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle, where India currently leads the table with 68.52 percentage points, and Bangladesh is in fourth place with 45.83 percentage points.

Challenges and Expectations

The second Test at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium is expected to be intense, with uncertain pitch conditions and potential rain forecasted. The Indian team faces the challenge of deciding whether to play three spinners, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja being certainties, and a possible toss-up between Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

Gavaskar's warning comes at a time when India is gearing up for a grueling 10-match Test season, including hosting New Zealand for a three-match Test series in October-November and then traveling to Australia for the crucial five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. These matches are crucial for India's bid to secure a place in the 2025 World Test Championship final.

In conclusion, Sunil Gavaskar's stern message to the Indian cricket team is clear: Bangladesh is no longer a team to be underestimated, and India must be cautious and prepared to face a formidable opponent in the upcoming Test series.

Sources