Bangladesh need more Tests to build up confidence: Kohli
Currently the top test team with a formidable home record, India are overwhelming favourites in the one-off match against Bangladesh, a side eight rungs lower in the official rankings.
Bangladesh are particularly handicapped by their limited test exposure and the team managed to lose a test match in Wellington last month despite scoring almost 600 in their first innings.
It was yet another instance of their batting inconsistency but India captain Virat Kohli refused to be complacent.
‘It’s an equal battle, you can’t discount Bangladesh batting,’ said the 28-year-old.
‘They did really well in New Zealand ... Scoring more than 350 runs in one day was phenomenal and going at four-and-half throughout the day was something very special.
‘We can’t take any aspect of their team lightly. We need to play the same way that we played against any other team in the world. Bangladesh do have many quality players.’
Bangladesh enjoyed an unbeaten run in six bilateral ODI series at home until England ended it last year.
With more test exposure, they can replicate their limited-overs success in the longest format, said Kohli.
‘They have the skill, it’s just that they don’t play that many test matches to gain confidence as a squad.’