Did the Indian Selectors Fear of a Resurgence from Bangladesh?

Did the Indian Selectors Fear of a Resurgence from Bangladesh?: India and Bangladesh are all set to lock horns against each other in the month of June. Get set for an exciting series as the two teams look to sting the opposition with their skill. Bangladesh are minnows as per their ranking but they cannot underestimated or undervalued for sure especially after the recently concluded series against Pakistan where they vanquished them 4-0 in a comprehensive series win. It was the first time in 16 years that Bangladesh managed to end up on the winning side against Pakistan.

Last time, when they played India in 2014, India sent almost an India B team to play Bangladesh. Players like Parvez Rasool, Manoj Tiwary and other inexperienced rookies, who usually fail to make a cut into the XI were picked to play Bangladesh. The team also missed the services of the pro MS Dhoni as Raina led the side. But this time round, the scenario is entirely different. Bangladesh has developed leaps and bounds and has managed to up their cricketing level a notch higher to be note worthy for teams around the world.

They stunned England in the World Cup 2015 and played good cricket throughout the tournament and made it to the Quarterfinals of the ICC event for the first time. Probably, this magnified effort and favorable results generated by the Bangladeshi’s was playing in the minds of the Indian selectors when they picked the squad. The reason why I say that is because this time, the selectors have selected the best possible squad for the tour which suggests that they are indeed considering the Bangla tigers seriously and don’t want to make fool out of themselves by risking a series going in with the rookies.

This time MS Dhoni returns as captain, and Harbhajan Singh makes a comeback to the Indian test team. It is pretty much the same squad that played the world cup which has been selected for this tour as well, with an injured Mohd. Shami being the only exclusion. That speaks volumes of how Bangladesh have upgraded themselves and how big teams like India have started to consider them as serious contenders. With Kohli, Raina, Ashwin, Rohit and Dhawan, the selectors have picked the best available squad so as to diminish any marginal chances of an upset.

Did the Indian selectors make a mistake by over-estimating the Bangladeshis? Or have they made the right decision staying true to the policy of respecting the opposition no matter who they are? Was it the Pakistan series win a fluke by Bangladesh? We will have to wait and see as the series gets underway in a weeks’ time.