Bangladesh have never played a Test in India. That alone should turn them into a highly-motivated group of new-age players out to prove something. Overall, Bangladesh have played 8 Tests against India, including their inaugural Test match. They have lost 6 of these Tests. The other 2 were draws affected by rains.
Bangladesh have been perennial under-achievers since they took their first step in Test cricket in November 2000. However, there is something about the present bunch that makes them dangerous. They are hungry.
They made it to the 2015 World Cup Quarter Final where they gave India a real scare. They gave India another tough contest at the T20 World Cup to follow in 2016, where they lost by a single run despite being primed to win it midway through the final over. Bangladesh have taken way too long to impress on the world stage but probably 2016 changed a lot of things. Here are five reasons why India would take Bangladesh lightly at their own peril.
#1 Their coach
Bangladesh have turned a corner under Chandika Hathurusingha, their coach since 2014. Known for his tactical nous, Hathurusingha has turned the Bangladesh players into more responsible sportsmen who picked consistency over the natural flair that defined Bangladesh’s early superstars like Mohammad Ashraful and Habibul Bashar.
No stranger to India or international cricket, Hathurusingha, a former Sri Lankan batsman has been at the helm of some impressive performances including the quarter-final entry at the 2015 World Cup, runners-up finish at the 2016 Asia Cup and ODI series wins at home against India and then the mighty South Africa. The biggest of all the achievements was their victory over England, their first Test victory against any team other than Zimbabwe and West Indies.
Hathurusingha’s tactics have helped in putting pressure on India in the past encounters, albeit in the shorter formats of the game. Will he be able to come up with enough strategies to counter India’s superstars in the longest format of the game? Now, that is the big question.
#2 Seasoned batsmen with experience
Bangladesh have quite a few players who have tasted success at the international level and are confident about scoring runs away from home as well. Apart from Shakib Al Hasan, who was the first player ever to reach No.1 All-rounder’s ranking in all the three formats of the game, the visitors also have the feisty Mushfiqur Rahim and the calm and composed Mahmudullah.
Shakib’s double century in New Zealand will no doubt give him a lot of confidence. Mushfiq scored 159 as well in an epic partnership and that should egg him on to greater things. Whilst in the series against England, it was Tamim Iqbal who stood out with a century (that set up the historic victory in the second Test) and a half-century.
#3 Spinners who can exploit turning tracks
Bangladesh have a distinct advantage over other teams who have visited India such as England and South Africa – they have some very good tweakers. Most notable among them is Mehedi Hasan Miraz who picked up 19 wickets against England including two crucial 6-fors that wrecked England in the second Test. Shakib was the second highest wicket-taker in that series with 12 wickets.
Shakib also bagged six in New Zealand while Mehedi Hasan picked up four wickets. Bangladesh have several spinners at their disposal apart from the above two such as Taijul Islam and part-timer Mahmudullah. Bangladesh, unlike most visiting teams would hope for a slow turner as that makes them all the more potent.
#4 Young blood without the burden of past
One of the best aspects about the Bangladesh squad is the right blend of younger and senior players. Mushfiqur has played 51 Tests, Shakib 46 and Tamim 46. But Bangladesh isn’t overly dependent on them. New players like Soumya Sarkar who scored an 86 in New Zealand and Sabbir Rahman are coming through the ranks nicely. Sabbir’s sensational 64* in a wonderful chase against England in the first Test stands out in memory.
Ice-cool under pressure, Sabbir took Bangladesh to the doorstep of victory chasing 286 but ran out of partners. England just held on, winning by 22 runs. Sabbir also scored a gritty half-century in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand recently, when Bangladesh capitulated gifting New Zealand the match.
Imrul Kayes would probably make a comeback at the top with some reshuffling and so would Mominul Haque, who averages 51 in 20 Tests with 4 centuries and scored a rock-solid 64 in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand.
#1 Batting appetite
Bangladesh’s appetite for runs has gone up by quite a few notches in the last couple of years, where they average 31.69, more than teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Apart from posting 595/8d in New Zealand (the highest score by a team in a loss), Bangladesh have also amassed impressive scores such as 332 and 555/6 against Pakistan in April 2015, 326 against South Africa in July 2015 and 296 in the third innings on a tough track to set up a Test win against England at home.
If the toss goes their way, Bangladesh can be a handful against India especially if it comes down to a tricky fourth innings chase for the home team. The pressure will also be higher considering it is a one-off Test which doesn’t leave the hosts India with a chance to come back and take the series as is possible in a 3-match Test series.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
