Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has called for a determined fight from his team as they prepare for their challenging Test series against India, set to begin on September 19.
Shanto emphasized the importance of stretching the matches into the final session, believing that Bangladesh can force the games to swing in their favour if they maintain pressure on India for five full days.
Fresh off a historic Test series victory over Pakistan, Bangladesh enters the India tour with renewed confidence. However, the task ahead is daunting, as India has not lost a Test series at home since 2012 and has never been defeated by Bangladesh in the longest format of the game. Speaking at a pre-departure press conference, Shanto acknowledged India’s supremacy but remained optimistic about his team’s chances.
“They are well ahead of us in the rankings. But we did play well recently. We want to play well for five days, that’s our goal. We want to get the result in the last session of the Test match. At that time, the match can go in any direction,” Shanto said.
He added, “It is an opportunity [to get our first win in India]. We will play with a win in mind. But we don’t want to think too far ahead.”
Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series triumph over Pakistan has provided the team with a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their India tour. Shanto believes this success has strengthened belief in the team, not only within the squad but across the country.
“It will be a challenging series, but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series. I guess the whole country has that confidence now. Every series is an opportunity. We want to win both Tests, but we have to stick to our process. If we do our job, we can get a good result,” Shanto noted.
Bangladesh has only played a single Test on Indian soil, back in 2017, which India won comfortably by 208 runs. The Tigers will be looking to improve on that performance as they attempt to claim their first-ever Test victory in India.
One of the key aspects of Bangladesh’s strategy for the series will be their bowling attack, particularly their spinners. Shanto boldly claimed that Bangladesh’s spin attack could rival India’s and expressed confidence in both their spinners and pacers. Despite acknowledging India’s greater experience, he believes his bowlers are up to the task.
“We are in a good place with our bowling attack, both spin and pace. Perhaps our pacers are behind them in terms of experience, but our spin attack is close to theirs. They can bowl in any conditions. All I can say is that our pacers, spinners, and batters will give 100%. I think we can make a difference only if we play as a team,” Shanto explained.
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s form will be crucial for Bangladesh, especially with the bat. While Shakib has struggled to score runs in recent outings, including during his stint with Surrey in the County Championship, Shanto remains hopeful that the seasoned campaigner will deliver in India. Shanto praised Shakib’s recent bowling performances, noting his impact in the County Championship despite his batting struggles.
“My personal goal would be for the team to win. I want to contribute as a batter, for which I have prepared to the best of my ability. I am hopeful [Shakib] will do well. The expectations are always the same with him. He is in good form with the ball. He didn’t get runs [for Surrey], but he had a good outing with the ball,” Shanto said, referring to Shakib’s nine-wicket haul for Surrey against Somerset in England.
While the odds are stacked against Bangladesh, Shanto’s leadership and belief in his team’s collective strength provide a sense of optimism. He repeatedly stressed the importance of sticking to the process, playing as a unit, and extending the Tests into their final phases, where anything could happen.
As Bangladesh embarks on their India tour, the stakes are high, and the challenge immense. However, with the confidence of recent success and a clear focus on their goals, the Tigers will look to defy the odds and make history against one of the toughest Test teams on home soil.
