It doesn't matter what wickets Bangladesh have prepared: Ravi Shastri

“Winning is a habit so when you are playing good cricket it is important to keep that habit going. Focus on your strengths, your work-ethic and make sure you are neither complacent nor overconfident,” said Shastri to PTI on the sidelines of the five-nation tournament hosted by Bangladesh. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and UAE will face off against each other in what is a T20 event, a departure from the previous ODI format. Hosts Sri Lanka will look to defend the title with a well-rested team that will be very different from the one that toured India.

India, however, are at the peak of a very good T20 run after whitewashing Australia 0-3 in Australia, and thrashing Sri Lanka 2-1 at home.

“We don’t want to always come from behind, sometimes we want to start well too. Hopefully, we will be looking to do that in this tournament. Every game now is crucial before the World Cup. We have the momentum and it is vital to keep it going,” Shastri said about the current form of the team.

Shastri expressed absolute nonchalance when he was quizzed about the pitches and India's concerns of a green top. The hosts had lost the first T20 against Sri Lanka on a green pitch in Pune having floundered to a 100-odd runs against an inexperienced Sri Lankan attack.

However, Shastri said, “It doesn’t matter what wicket they have prepared. We want to play cricket and keep the good form going. It is as simple as that. It may be Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan or any other opponent... our job is to play,” reported PTI.

The ex- Indian batsman reserved his respect for the Bangladesh side and said, “I have seen cricket in Bangladesh grow. I have come here right from the 90s as a broadcaster and I am happy to see the way cricket has developed and the way Bangladesh has evolved as a team. No team can take them lightly as they showed last year in the ODIs. They have the respect of every opponent,” he said.

At the same time, he did not appear overly concerned about India's 2-1 ODI series defeat last year when MSD's men had toured the nation. “It happened about eight months back and I have already forgotten that. We have played a lot of cricket after that. Ask me what happened over the last two weeks. My memory is not that good,” he remarked.