We don’t fear anyone but we respect everyone: Gautam Gambhir

The anticipation grows bigger as India is set to don whites for the first time in seven months and with big shots returning, the excitement seems palpable. After clinching the World T20 glory in June under Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir has been at the helm, and ahead of the Bangladesh Tests, he has made the plans pretty clear.

On the eve of the Chennai Test, Gambhir addressed the media where he talked about India’s respect for every playing nation, smartly denying the idea of fearing any opponent. The former international believes that they don’t focus on the opposition but on their game which ultimately fetches the optimum results.

“I have been a big believer that we don’t fear anyone but we respect everyone. It is the same with Bangladesh. We don’t look at the opposition and we play the game we know,” said Gautam Gambhir while addressing a press conference on the eve of the Chennai Test.

Bangladesh walks into the series brimming with confidence after whitewashing Pakistan in a two-match Test series on away soil. While Gambhir acknowledged their recent achievement, he believes every new series is a chance to achieve better. Bangladesh’s experienced spin attack would come in handy when they play on Indian conditions but the hosts possess quality counterparts and would be looking to use them well enough.

“I congratulate them (Bangladesh) for what they did in Pakistan. But this is a new series, and they are a quality side. We want to play good cricket. Yes, they have experience in Shakib (Al Hasan), Mushfiqur (Rahim), and Mehidy (Miraz) but we want to be switched on from ball one,” said Gambhir.

India play their first Test at iconic MA Chidambaram on November 19 while the second Test will see the light of the day at Kanpur’s Green Park, which will be further followed by a three-match T20I series.