India's cricket team captain, Rohit Sharma, is expecting a successful run in their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, starting on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Despite the last 7-8 years of intense competition from Bangladesh, Rohit remains confident that India can come out on top and win the series.
“Whenever we have come to Bangladesh, they are a very challenging team and we have to play well to beat them,” Rohit said. “It is a very simple equation for us.”
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Rohit also commented on the teams' anticipation surrounding the World Cup 8-9 months away, suggesting it's not time to think too far ahead yet. Instead, as he said, they should focus on playing good cricket now, so they can narrow their focus closer to the World Cup.
When asked about the intensity of the busy schedule, Rohit stressed the importance of giving players breaks for workload management.
The Indian captain also believes that the India-Bangladesh rivalry has gone through different dimensions over the years, making it an exciting series. In recent years, Bangladesh lost a few matches that they contested closely against India but failed to touch the finish line.
Rohit also commented on Bangladesh's captain Liton Das, calling him a quality player. But he believes that India should plan for the entire batting lineup and not just one player like Liton or anyone else.
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Rohit Sharma is clearly looking forward to the series, expressing his desire for the Indian cricket team to play their best and come out on top. He showed his confidence in the team, despite the strength and challenge that Bangladesh can offer them.
Bangladesh and India faced each other in 36 ODIs with India winning 30 of those clashes and Bangladesh only five (one match ended with no result). This statistical evidence unmistakably illuminates the gulf between these two teams. However, when the cricket is in Dhaka, Bangladesh proves to be a tenacious adversary to overcome, as Rohit astutely pointed out in his pre-series press meet.