The Indian team is eyeing a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third consecutive time, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy being crucial for their qualification to the Lord’s showdown. India will first face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, starting on September 19.
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, recovering from Achilles tendon surgery, issued a warning to Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he is expected to make his return. “We are the favourites. They should be worried,” Shami told NDTV Sports. While Shami was not selected for the Bangladesh series, the pacer trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Shami, and Mohammed Siraj is expected to be at its best for the Australia series.
India currently leads the WTC points table with six wins in nine games, while Australia is close behind with eight wins in 12 matches. The Bangladesh series offers a chance for India to secure more points. Skipper Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of staying focused and not underestimating any opponent. “No dress rehearsal [Bangladesh series]. Every game is important. Doesn’t matter where we play. We want to win, we want to win this Test and the series,” Rohit said.
Rohit also addressed the pressure India faces from opponents. “Every team wants to beat India. They enjoy that, lene do maze (let them enjoy). We’ve played a lot of cricket against various teams. We focus on our own game… we try to play good cricket and not think too much about the opposition,” he added.