On paper, India’s strength and depth far outweigh Bangladesh, yet the encounter promises to generate its usual buzz among fans of both nations, sometimes even spilling over to the players.
However, Bangladesh’s camp insists they are not letting the hype affect them. Allrounder Mahedi Hasan said after training that the team is treating the game like any other international match.
“No, I’m not thinking about the hype in the back of my mind. It’s created more by the media and the fans. We’re approaching it normally, just like we do for every international game. We’re not overthinking it.” Mahedi said.
Against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh were pushed to the 20th over in their chase before sealing victory. Many feared a late collapse, but the team held their nerve a performance that has boosted confidence ahead of the India game.
Mehidy acknowledged there’s always room for improvement but praised the squad’s collective effort.
“Good things never really end, you always feel you could have done even better. But Alhamdulillah, we’re happy with what we achieved. One of the positives is that whenever needed, someone is stepping up and delivering. Mash’Allah, that’s a very good sign for us. Hopefully, we can carry this unity and effort right through to the end of the tournament.”
