India to approach Asia Cup final as just another game, says Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri, Team Director of the Indian cricket team, has brushed aside tomorrow’s Asia Cup final between India and Bangladesh as just another game. The Men in Blue are unbeaten in the tournament and will start as huge favourites in the final at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.

Speaking at the press conference before the final, Shastri said: "They (Indian players) are experienced players and they should treat this as another game. Our approach to every team and every game has been the same.

"Right from the start, we have approached every game as a knock-out game. The final will be no different for us."

The former Indian all-rounder also spoke about the match between the two sides in the league stage which saw India defeat the hosts.

"That was (first match) a good game. Bangladesh was a very good win, to start off with. In the first game, we were under pressure till the last 10 overs, when we bounced back. Every game is a tough game. It's about how you balance things out in batting and bowling. We did an excellent job in that game," he said.

India and Bangladesh have built quite a rivalry over the last year, especially after the World Cup quarter-final clash between the two sides which was marred by a no-ball controversy. After that, Bangladesh beat India in an ODI series in June 2015 which further intensified the rivalry.

Shastri was asked if Bangladesh have now overtaken Pakistan as India’s biggest rivals in the sub-continent, to which he said: "I think all teams are very good in the sub-continent. You have your ups and your downs. Last year (2014), Sri Lanka became the World T20 champions. Bangladesh have played very good cricket too.

"Not long ago, Pakistan were in the top two. Now it's India. You can never discount teams in the subcontinent. You will get a phase when you go up and you get a phase where you go off the boil. Then you come up again. It happens to all the teams."

The 53-year-old also downplayed the impact of the crowd on the outcome of tomorrow’s match. He mentioned that India have more than enough experience of playing in front of such hostile crowds.

"We're used to noise. Let there be 100 percent noise. Who cares? When you play at that level, you are immune to that. You can use to your advantage as well. You can show that you can play," he said.