Bangladesh shouldn’t be taken lightly. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Tigers downed Pakistan in their own backyard, winning not only their first Test match against Pakistan but also their first-ever series. A 10-wicket victory after the hosts declared by 448/6 and then a 6-wicket victory when they were reduced to 26/6 in the first innings. It’s truly remarkable. That’s why former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha thinks that India must be wary of Bangladesh.
“I think coming to India after beating Pakistan would give them (Bangladesh) a lot of confidence,” said Ojha in an exclusive interview with InsideSport. Coming to India for a 2-match Test series that starts on September 19, Shanto’s men are ready to slay the giants after showing Pakistan in Rawalpindi that they aren’t to be taken lightly.
Bangladesh unpredictable: Pragyan Ojha
Bangladesh have lots of ups and downs in Test cricket, especially away from home. This Pakistan series victory is one of the greatest moments in Bangladesh’s Test history. This is just the third time they have won an away test series. They beat Zimbabwe in a one-off Test against Zimbabwe and the West Indies 2-0 in 2009. It’s taken them 15 years to beat a team away from home in a series with at least two matches. That unpredictable has stuck with them for too long; the question is, does that change with them beating Pakistan?
“I think it will be a very good series because Bangladesh are unpredictable. They can just come up and play some really good cricket, or at times they can just shut themselves out.” Ojha said on how Bangladesh can produce miraculous and disastrous cricket depending on the given day.
Ojha wants some ‘good competition’
Earlier in the year, we saw England challenge India, especially at the start of the series. This resulted in a contest that entertained everyone and kept them on the edge of their seats. The fans don’t want India to hammer Bangladesh, and neither does Pragyan Ojha. He expected the same Bangladesh to take the field in Chennai as the one that did in Rawalpindi and produced some memorable cricket.
“We want to see (the same) Bangladesh, which really played well in Pakistan, come and play against India because that’s what you want as a cricketer, as a cricket fan. Some good competition,” Ojha concluded.
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