Chennai, Sep 15 (PTI) – The Bangladesh cricket team, brimming with confidence, touched down in India on Sunday afternoon, marking the beginning of their campaign for two Test matches and three T20 Internationals. This tour comes on the heels of their historic and morale-boosting 2-0 series victory against Pakistan, which has greatly fortified the spirits of the team and their captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto. He expressed optimism that their recent success will serve them well as they face the formidable Indian team in the upcoming weeks.

The squad arrived in Chennai, the designated venue for the first Test between India and Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on September 19. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, speaking at a pre-departure press conference at Dhaka airport, acknowledged the challenges that lay ahead in this series.

“It’s definitely going to be a very challenging series for us,” Shanto remarked. He highlighted that the recent triumph over Pakistan has injected an extra dose of confidence within the team and the Bangladeshi populace. Shanto emphasized that every series presents a new opportunity and affirmed their intention to play to win both matches. “The things that matter to win, the process matters… our aim will be to do the work properly. Good results are possible if we do our job properly,” he elaborated, underlining the importance of focusing on their game plan and executing it effectively.

The Indian team currently sits at the pinnacle of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, but Shanto remains undeterred. He believes that the outcome of the matches will ultimately hinge on their performance over the five-day duration. “If you see the ranking, they are much ahead of us,” Shanto noted, acknowledging India’s superior position.

However, he pointed out that Bangladesh has been in good form recently and that their aim will be to maintain this momentum by playing well throughout the five days of each Test match. “The result comes in the last session on the last day. If we play good cricket for five days, there is a chance which team will be a chance for either team to win in the last session,” Shanto added, indicating that perseverance and consistent performance could tilt the balance in their favor.

The anticipation is palpable as both teams prepare for what promises to be a gripping contest. The Bangladesh team is keen to translate their confidence into concrete performances on Indian soil, aiming to challenge the hosts and make a significant impact in this series.