Shubman Gill nervous about Bangladesh challenge? Batter warns against underestimating them before Test series

The 25-year-old India National Cricket Team star batsman Shubman Gill has issued a caution ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team and warned his team not to underestimate the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side.

The first Test of the India tour of Bangladesh 2024 is scheduled to be hosted by Chennai from September 19, and after the teams will move to Kanpur for the second Test, which will begin on September 27.

Bangladesh will be heading into the series on the back of a stunning performance in the two Test matches in Pakistan. Under Najmul Hossain Shanto's leadership, Bangladesh stunned the cricket world by whitewashing the Shan Masood-led Pakistan in their own backyard.

They dominantly won the first Test by 10 wickets and the second game by 6 wickets to complete a clean sweep. It was the first time in history that the Bangla Tigers had defeated Pakistan in a Test match as well as a Test series.

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Bangladesh have got a solid batting unit, spin-bowling unit, and pace attack. Indian batting star Shubman Gill is well aware of that fact and he warned his team against underestimating the neighbours.

"I don't think you can underestimate any international side. The kind of cricket Bangladesh has played in the last couple of months, especially in Pakistan, has been impressive. Their fast bowlers and the way their middle-order batters have absorbed pressure shouldn't be disregarded. So, I believe it will be an interesting and intriguing contest," said Gill to JioCinema, as per IANS.

Shubman Gill's form will be crucial for India in the series and he will have to bring out his best to tackle the opposition's bowling unit. Overall, Gill has featured in 25 Tests for India, scoring 1492 runs at an average of 35.52, with 4 tons and 6 fifties.

In the initial matches when I played as number three, I couldn't perform well - Shubman Gill

After opening with Rohit Sharma in over 10 Tests, Shubman Gill was pushed one position down at No.3 as Yashasvi Jaiswal was chosen to partner the Indian captain at the top. It was reported that Gill himself asked to bat at No.3 with India looking for a successor for Cheteshwar Pujara.

In his first few matches at his new position, Shubman Gill failed to score and came under tremendous pressure. However, he bounced back strong, and so far, in 10 Tests while batting at No.3, he has scored 618 runs at an average of 41.20.

Talking about this, Shubman Gill said that after not being able to score in initial matches, he made a goal to convert his starts into big scores.

"Quite often, when you're playing in a different position, everyone knows your potential, but you still have to prove yourself.

"In the initial matches when I played as number three, I couldn't perform well - against West Indies and South Africa. I was getting good starts, scoring 20s and 30s, but I wasn't able to convert them. When I returned, I knew I had to turn these performances around. Moving forward, my goal is to convert my fifties into big hundreds," Gill added.

Shubman Gill also performed well in the five-match home Test series against England earlier in the year. He scored 452 runs and has now stated that it was a big confidence boost for him.

"That was a big confidence boost for me, especially after losing the first Test match. Quite a few players were unavailable, so there was pressure on us to win the series.

"I had never played five Test matches before, so it was a good experience and exciting to feel that intensity. Even after getting breaks following two Test matches, we never dropped that intensity," stated Gill.