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India have put behind the defeat: Chahal


Published : 05 Nov 2019 07:59 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 04:16 PM

As Bangla­desh look for a win in the second T20I match in Raj­kot on Thursday to wrap up the three-match series, Indian leg-spinner Yuzvvendra Chahal said on Tuesday that the visiting team is brimming with confidence and both sides will be fighting on an equal footing.

Chahal also said India have put behind them the seven-wicket defeat in the first match of the series in Delhi a couple of days ago and look to start afresh hoping to win the second encounter.

However, rains that could be triggered by  severe cyclone ‘Maha’ heading towards Gujarat coast may affect the Rajkot match and the possibility of its cancellation may dash India’s hopes of making a comeback and level the series in which Mahmudullah Riyad-led side lead 1-0.

"We should appreciate them (Bangladesh), they played really well (in the first T20I in Delhi). Bangladesh have given us a proper fight in the last couple of matches. They played really well, especially Mushfiqur (Rahim)," the 29-year-old Indian leggie told reporters in Rajkot.

"The wicket was not easy for batting first but still we had a decent score. Bangladesh saved their wickets and there were a few dropped catches but that is part of the game. I think Bangladesh bowled really well, especially when Shikhar (Dhawan) and Rishabh (Pant) were batting. Mahmudullah bowled with two off-spinners, it was a good move," Chahal said.

Bangladesh are missing two of their senior players Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal in the series but Chahal said even without the duo they are a confident team.

"Even without Shakib and Tamim they are a decent team. They have some experienced players and a couple of new guys did well. So, we didn't think that since two players are missing, so they are a weak team," he said.

Chahal said the last time he played against Bangladesh was in the Nidahas Trophy competition in Sri Lanka when they had played the finals. “So both the teams are same. It is just that this (Bangladesh) team is missing two main players and if you look at all the 15 players, even the new comers look so confident. So, it is a confident team."

Asked about Bangladesh’s young leg-spinner Aminul Islam who played only his second T20I of his career in Delhi, Chahal said "he obviously did well in Bangladesh first class circuit and that's why he is here. 

He might have played 40-50 matches before that. He bowled very well. He took crucial wickets in three overs giving 20 odd runs.”

Chahal said India is looking to start afresh in the second T20I in Rajkot and expectations will be high from youngsters of Indian team ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in Australia and they just need to ensure that mistakes are not repeated.

"I think we are positive. It is not like we haven't lost the first match of any series and didn't go on to win the series. The first match is done. If you think about last match, then negatives will come into mind," Chahal said.

"Before we came here, we have forgotten about that loss and we are making a fresh start and the entire team are focused and positive, and hopefully, we will win on Thursday," he added. Meanwhile, Cyclone ‘Maha’ that originated in the Arabian Sea and is hurtling northwestwards is expected to recurve sharply and approach the Gujarat coast and make a landfall near Veraval in Gujarat by the night of November 6 as a cyclonic storm with wind of 35 - 40 Knots, the Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement this afternoon.

Consequently, heavy rain with thunder and lightning is expected to affect South Gujarat and North Maharashtra areas, it added.