ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Ashish Nehra insists India won't underestimate Bangladesh
Ahead of their crucial Group 2 game against Bangladesh in the World Twenty20, veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra on Tuesday stressed that his team won't take their opposition lightly considering the good show from Bangladesh recently against top teams.
Following a defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener, the hosts bounced back strongly to beat arch-rivals Pakistan in a must-win match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to put their World T20 campaign back on track.
India now face the task of winning both their Group 2 matches against Bangladesh and Australia (March 27) to qualify for the semi-finals. They have beaten Bangladesh in four previous Twenty20 Internationals, including two in 2016 - the most recent being the Asia Cup final in Dhaka.
"Bangladesh have been playing good cricket for the last 2-3 years. The way they have improved is quite amazing. We will not take Bangladesh lightly. We have to play to our potential if we have to beat them," Nehra said at a press conference here.
"Our mood is good. The kind of cricket we are playing in the last 2-3 months, we are all happy and satisfied. Hopefully, we would like to take it forward even further; the kind of fire power we have, if put to use, we will definitely win the game."
Being the senior most member of the team's bowling line-up, the 36-year-old said that he loves sharing tips and his experience with other seamers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami.
"I am enjoying it. My job is very important; to pass my experience which I gathered in the last 16-17 years to Bumrah, Shami and Bhuvneshwar. I am sure I am helping them," he said.
Asked about the slower bowlers making more impact in the World T20, Nehra said, "It depends where you are playing and what kind of situation you are in because T20 is such a format where the wicket definitely plays a big role. In Nagpur and Kolkata, slow bowlers came into play and the match between England and South Africa saw sea of runs."
Full of praise for Mustafizur Rahman
"You name it, Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rehman. They have so many new good cricketers coming up and they have been part of the IPL. That really helps and also part of Big Bash League and Caribbean Premier League," he said.
"So T20 cricket, it's definitely a great thing for all the teams and the way cricket is going globally, every team is good. And not just for Bangladesh cricket, it is good for world cricket the way Bangladesh have been playing."