“No dress rehearsal kind of stuff happening here” – Rohit Sharma on the significance on the IND vs BAN 2024 Test series

Indian captain Rohit Sharma said the team will look to hit the ground running against Bangladesh in the upcoming two-match Test series. Rohit admitted there is no time for dress rehearsal kind of stuff before the crucial Test series.

India last played a Test series six months ago against England and Rohit said every series has its own significance as they know what is at stake. 

India has won 11 Test matches out of the 13 they have played against Bangladesh and has never been beaten by the Tigers in the red-ball version. 

Rohit Sharma’s men is at the top of the WTC standings with a PCT of 68.52 and a 2-0 series win against Bangladesh will help them consolidate on the numero uno position.

Rohit Sharma said in the press conference, “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.”

India kicked off their preparation for the Test series as the camp started in Chennai on 12th September and Rohit said they are ready for the series. 

“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 commented.

“So 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 added.

The opening Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at the Chepauk Stadium, Chennai from September 19.