Rohit Sharma: No “Dress Rehearsal” Against Bangladesh, Every Test is Vital for WTC Standings

Team India captain Rohit Sharma has made it clear that his side is not treating the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh as a preparation phase for tougher challenges ahead. 

Instead, he emphasized the importance of each game, especially with the World Test Championship (WTC) points table still wide open. India currently sits atop the WTC standings, and maintaining this momentum is crucial for their ambitions in the championship cycle.

Speaking ahead of the first Test in Chennai, which begins on September 19, Rohit highlighted the stakes involved, stating that the series against Bangladesh is as important as any other, regardless of the looming fixtures against New Zealand and Australia.

“Look, at the end of the day, you are playing for your country. So there is no dress rehearsal kind of stuff happening here. Every game that we play is important, and every game becomes important because of what is at stake. [In the] World Test Championship, still the table is quite wide open, and you want to win every game. So it doesn’t matter where we play in two months’ time. We want to win here. We want to win this Test match,” Rohit said during a press conference ahead of the much awaited series.

The Indian skipper’s comments highlight the pressure and focus the team is placing on the current WTC cycle. India, after this series, will host New Zealand for a three-match Test series in October-November, followed by a grueling five-match away series in Australia from November to January. However, Rohit was adamant that his team’s focus remains solely on the immediate challenge posed by Bangladesh.

India has taken their preparations seriously, arriving in Chennai a week ahead of the first Test to ensure optimal readiness. Rohit pointed out that the squad has had ample time to train and acclimatize, with players fine-tuning their skills and building momentum before the series opener.

“We assembled here on the 12th, and we’ve had a good time spending hours on the field, [and] getting everything together. So yeah, it is tough. But see, now people are so experienced, they managed themselves pretty well. And guys who have not played a lot of Test cricket, obviously went on to play the Duleep Trophy, which was good,” Rohit explained.

Rohit expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, adding that the extra time spent on the ground in Chennai has been beneficial in terms of readiness. “In terms of preparation, [and] in terms of readiness, I feel we are quite ready for this game and what lies ahead of us. So it was a good little prep that we had before this Test match,” he said.

India’s position at the top of the WTC table adds additional weight to every game they play. With 74 points from nine matches and a points percentage (PCT) of 68.52, India leads the standings ahead of Australia, who are second with 90 points but a lower PCT of 62.50. Rohit is well aware of the tight competition and the importance of securing every available point.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, have made an impressive jump to fourth place following their historic 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan. With 33 points from six matches and a PCT of 45.83, they pose a formidable challenge to India in this series.

The first Test between India and Bangladesh will be held at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19 to 23, followed by the second Test at Green Park in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1.

As India prepares for a tough schedule in the coming months, Rohit Sharma’s leadership and focus on taking one game at a time will be crucial for their WTC aspirations.