India captain Rohit Sharma lauded Bangladesh for putting up a brilliant effort in the just concluded Asia Cup.
The opening batsman also said the Tigers should not be considered as a walkover team.
The Tigers went down fighting against India in the Asia Cup finale, losing by three wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium Friday.
Despite a moderate total of 222 runs, Bangladesh had tested India till the last ball of the chase.
Mashrafe: We’re proud, but have to move forward #BCB #TIGERS #BCBTIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET https://t.co/5B3gXYFWdM
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 29, 2018
It might sound absurd but there was a common wish among the organisers and television broadcasters of a India-Pakistan final.
The somewhat biased fixture was drafted in order to have India and Pakistan face each other three times, including the final.
But Bangladesh emerged as the party spoilers, defeating Pakistan by 37 runs in the last game of the Super Four stage to set up a Bangladesh-India final.
Hopes of an India-Pakistan final was so strong that a Pakistan newsman could not hold him back before asking Rohit if it would have been interesting if the opposition was Pakistan.
“If the final was with Pakistan, it would’ve been interesting, but even Bangladesh, I can’t take any credit away from them. They have played superb cricket in the tournament. I don't believe they're a walkover team. In the last two-three years their performances have been superb. I think for us this final, the opposition didn’t matter. We just wanted to play well. Whoever the opposition - Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Hong Kong or Sri Lanka - our job was to just do our work and see how we could win. If you focus too much on the opponents, your preparation is hampered. That's what I said at the pre-series press conference that more than looking at the opposition, we've to see what we can do and how we can improve,” said Rohit to the media following the final.
Mashrafe unsure about Liton dismissal #BCB #TIGERS #BCBTIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #LITONDAS #LITON #DAS https://t.co/g9uJU9I7w6
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 29, 2018
Rohit led India to their second multi-nation series title in the last six months, after the Nidahas Trophy in Colombo in March where the Indians edged Bangladesh in a nail-biting final.
