Ahead of the much-anticipated India vs. Bangladesh Test series, a war of words has already started. As is often the case in cricket, pre-match press conferences are heating up with bold statements. Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hussain Shanto, full of confidence, declared that his team would try to win both matches of the series against India. However, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had a simple and blunt reply: “Let them have fun.”
Rohit’s Calm Yet Sharp Response
In his pre-match press conference at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Rohit Sharma made it clear that India is not bothered by these remarks. When asked about Shanto’s challenge, Rohit said, “All teams want to beat India. It’s fun to beat India. Let them enjoy, but our focus is always on the game.” Rohit’s words were both calm and confident, reflecting a team that is focused on results rather than pre-game chatter.
Using the example of England’s recent series against India, Rohit highlighted how “England also talked a lot before the Test series” earlier this year, but India stayed focused and let their game do the talking. “Our job is to win matches. We don’t need to think too much about what other teams are saying about us,” he added, making it clear that India’s focus remains firmly on their performance on the field.
Rohit on India’s Approach
Rohit’s response also gave a glimpse into India’s mindset as they prepare for yet another important Test series. He emphasized that India has played against all major teams in world cricket—Australia, England, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and others—and they don’t need to devise a completely different strategy for each one. However, Rohit did mention that when a few new players come into the opposing team, “you can think a little about them and plan accordingly.”
He stressed that the team’s focus is always on “playing good cricket” and not getting distracted by what the opposition is saying. This pragmatic approach has worked well for India in recent times, and Rohit seems to be carrying forward the same philosophy.
Nazmul Shanto’s Confident Remarks
On the other hand, Nazmul Hussain Shanto is riding high after Bangladesh’s recent success against Pakistan, and he believes his team can carry that confidence into the series against India. Shanto said, “It will be a challenging series for us, but after playing a good series against Pakistan, there is extra confidence in our team.”
Bangladesh’s captain is optimistic about their chances and emphasized the importance of focusing on the “process” to achieve victory. “We will play to win both matches and focus on doing our job properly,” Shanto said before departing for India. His team will certainly look to make the most of their momentum, but beating India at home is a tall task, something that Shanto and his team are well aware of.
The Real Challenge Lies on the Field
With both captains sharing their perspectives, the real contest will begin on September 19th at Chennai’s historic MA Chidambaram Stadium. While Bangladesh is eager to pull off an upset, India remains unfazed by the pre-series talk. Rohit Sharma’s calm demeanor and emphasis on focusing solely on the game reflect the confidence of a team that has performed consistently on the global stage.
As the series kicks off, fans will be eager to see if Shanto’s confident words translate into a strong performance against India, or if Rohit Sharma’s steady and calculated approach will continue to lead India to yet another series victory.
