India continue their bid for a World Twenty20 semi-final spot when they face Bangladesh on Wednesday and coach Rahul Dravid said there was no room for complacency despite the 2007 champions having lost just one of their last 11 matches against their neighbours. India recorded wins over Pakistan and the Netherlands and followed that up with a five-wicket haul against South Africa, who lead Group 2 with five points.
With the top two from the group advancing, India and Bangladesh have four points each, with Dravid’s side ahead on net pace. “We have a lot of respect for them. I think they are a very good team,” Dravid told reporters on Tuesday. “This format and this World Cup has really shown us that you can’t take any team lightly. “Ireland showed that against England… The fact that it’s such a short format. The margins of victory and defeat, even if they are 12-15 runs, are actually two hits. It’s two hits one way or another and that’s the game.
“Also, it has pretty much leveled the playing field because the boundaries are bigger. Some of those hits that you expect sixes from in the subcontinent… that doesn’t happen that easily. People are coming out.” Dravid’s team, which is without injured spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, said he hoped his bowlers could stem the flow of runs during the latter overs.
“It’s an area we wanted to address to get better at,” Dravid said. “Obviously Bumrah was one of our guys who was put in two of those overs. India need to beat Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to be assured of qualification. Bangladesh can also progress with two wins, but Shakib said they will have to pull off a big upset against India. “We will play our best and try to do it,” he added. In the other Super 12 match on Wednesday, Zimbabwe will face the Netherlands.
