“Our quality batsmen can take on any spin unit”: Gautam Gambhir warns Bangladesh before the 1st Test

India's home season begins on Thursday with the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The Bangla Tigers come into the series on the back of a famous series win against Pakistan. It's a no-brainer that the visitors will challenge Rohit Sharma & Co with their spin attack at the Chepauk track, but head coach Gautam Gambhir believes the Indian batters are ready to neutralise quality spin bowling.

The Indian batsmen, including star batsman Virat Kohli, struggled against the Sri Lankan spinners in the ODI series last month, which led to some concern ahead of the match against Bangladesh. However, Gambhir feels that his batting line-up has all the prerequisites to take on the Bangladesh spinners.

“Our batting unit has so much quality that it can take on any spin unit. There is a big difference between ODIs and Tests. It's about mindset and working on your defence and strengthening it and if you have it, then you play around it,” Gambhir told the media on the eve of the opening Test.

“They have a very good bowling attack. Shakib (Al Hasan) has the experience. Mahidi (Hasan) is also there. So we know there is talent in Bangladesh. The most important thing is that we are fully there from day one,” he added.

Gambhir heaped praise on the Indian bowling attack, calling it a world-class bowling unit that is gradually eradicating the nation's batting obsession.

“You have to give credit to (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj, (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja. They make this a bowling-obsessed nation.

“Bumrah is the best bowler in the world. It's not just his performance. It's also his hunger. And the best part is that he wants to play as much Test cricket as possible. That's not even a luxury. He can make a difference at any stage of the game. So yes, hopefully he can do that in this series and in the future,” Gambhir said.

The 42-year-old stressed that lead spinners Ashwin and Jadeja will continue to play a big role in the series and in the future, given their ability to take 20 wickets and their versatility.

“We know what contribution they can make on the first day (of a match) because perhaps the most important thing is that you have to be able to bowl defensively and you have to be able to bowl offensively as well.

“Both the guys can do that on the first to fifth day as well. So I think we will have an attack that can take 20 wickets. These two guys will make a big difference in Indian conditions,” he explained.

(With PTI inputs)