India-Bangladesh Test series starts Thursday

Having beaten Bangladesh in the T20I series, India will now take on the visiting team in the Test series that begins on Thursday. Rohit Sharma, who is captaining the side, while Virat Kohli takes a break, praised his bowlers for playing responsibly when India needed them the most during the third T20I international in Nagpur on Sunday.

India had lost the opening match in Delhi and went on to win the second T20I in Rajkot. India later beat Bangladesh by 30 runs in the third T20I to clinch the series.

Deepak Chahar was the key bowler, taking 6 wickets off 7 balls to bowl the opposition team out for 144, well before they could reach the target of 175.

Chahar’s bowling came in for much praise from veteran cricketers. Sachin Tendulkar said Chahar “bowled very smartly and used his variations well to pick up crucial wickets at crucial stages”.

Shivam Dube picked up three wickets, while Yuzvendra Chahal took one.

It were the bowlers who won us the game. I know how tough it was in the middle considering the dew factor. At one stage it was looking easy for them when they needed 70-odd of 8 overs; things were looking tough for us. – Rohit Sharma, Indian cricketer

Rohit said the team was under tremendous pressure at one stage. “It was a great comeback from us. The boys took the responsibility and raised their hands up”, he said. “I can understand when wickets are not falling, it’s hard to pick up. I just had to remind what team they’re playing for, credit to the bowlers”.

Rohit said the team is looking “to find the right balance” before the T20 World Cup and those who are not part of the team now will get a chance in the upcoming series. “Until we get close to the World Cup, we got to find the right balance. There are a few guys missing, but they’ll come back.”

India will next take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, starting in Indore on Thursday.

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