At 144/4, with 85 runs left to make in 20 overs, there may have been a slight tension among India’s ranks even if their run chase was completed with relative ease against Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener on Thursday. Former India opener Virender Sehwag, however, scoffed at the suggestion that Bangladesh could have threatened his former side and defended the low total of 228 in Dubai. “I don’t think there would have been (any tension) among the fans. It’s Bangladesh… you guys have made me praise them so much as if they are an incredible team,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz Live. “(Scared) of Bangaldesh? When I was playing, I never had any fear so what would I have been scared of today in this studio,” he replied at a question of feeling tense during the chase. “It’s Bangladesh, not Australia or Pakistan, that they would be very unpredictable. I don’t think there would have been even 1% of fear in the hearts of any fan during that match.” India eventually came home with 21 balls to spare, as a crucial partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill – who completed his hundred – allowed them to win without much of a blip. Sehwag believes that the target would have been chased down much quicker had a couple of wickets not fallen at the wrong time. “It was a very easy game. Got there with almost four overs to spare. Gill was composed, playing slowly. Had Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli or Shreyas Iyer stayed on the crease for longer, I could see this match getting over in 35 overs also,” he said.
