Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has called India "unbeatable" on their home turf and told that Rohit Sharma's team was miles ahead of Pakistan. Coming into the India tour, Bangladesh had produced a history series win for the first time by whitewashing Pakistan 2-0, and it was with much hope that they pinned expectations for an upset against India. That hope was quickly blown over in the first Test in Chennai as the Indians romped home by a record 280 runs.
Pakistan Needs More Experience
“Pakistan is a relatively new team. In experience, I would say, if you look at the matches they played and if you look at our team and the matches we have played, we have got more experience than them. And in Test cricket I think that is a massive factor," Shakib said in the pre-match press conference
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Shakib commented on the inexperience of the Pakistani Test side, stating that that cannot be said for India, at least as far as its home record goes. He himself recently declared that he would retire from T20I cricket and that the Kanpur Test scheduled to take place next could potentially signal the conclusion of his red-ball career. Shakib explained that 'India hasn't been out of the mode for over ten years and has consistently played well at home.'
India's Stellar Record
“If I talk about India, they are the number one team in the World Championship at this moment. They are probably unbeatable at home. I saw a stat somewhere where for some 4000 days they have been unbeaten in India. So, that shows how good they are in India."
“They have been doing well outside India as well. Any country that came to India finding it difficult, we are no different there. But having said that, we have to play really well against them to be able to show the fight that we feel like we can put on,” Shakib added.
India has not lost a home Test series since 2012-13, when England edged them; they now won their 17th series on the trot, the longest such streak. Pakistan, on the other hand, have struggled at home where they lost to Bangladesh after a drawn clash with New Zealand and then lost a 3-0 series to England. The last Test match played in Pakistan at home was against South Africa during the 2021-22 season.
India Remains 'Unbeatable' At Home
“If you look at other countries, every now and then they will lose one or two games. But in India, you hardly see them losing in Test matches. So yes, I would say you are right,” Shakib told reporters when he was asked whether India's tour was a big challenge for them
“We won against them in the ODI series in Bangladesh, we were very close to win a game against them in a Test match in Bangladesh. In Test cricket, we haven't got the success that we are looking for. Tomorrow we will have another opportunity."
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Shakib Al Hasan Reflects On 1st Test
“I thought in patches we played really well in Chennai. But having said that, finishing the match in three-and-a-half days wasn't ideal for us. We felt like we were a better team than that. So, we need to show that in tomorrow's match,” he added.
The India vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test will start on September 27, it will be held at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur.