Ravichandran Ashwin reveals how his teammates laughed when he termed Bangladesh as "tough contenders"

On Sunday, Team India thrashed South Africa to storm into the semi-finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Many cricket analysts and former cricketers had predicted their participation in the knock-out stages of the tournament. But no one ever believed that Bangladesh would be able to make it. Placed in the ‘group of death’ alongside heavyweights like hosts England, mighty Australia and New Zealand, many thought that the Tigers will be the first team to be eliminated.

But the spirited new age Bangladeshi team has turned the tables on them. They are into the semi-finals, and if nothing bizarre happens in the match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they will have to face their neighbours India. Probably the only man except for the Bangladeshi fans who considered Bangladesh as a tough contender to win the elite tournament is Ravichandran Ashwin.

“At the start of the tournament when they were playing the best of their game, I thought they were really a tough contender, and my friends in the dressing room made fun of me. But now they are really in the semis. And they are gonna take them on, and we better take them seriously,” said the 30-year old spinner.

He has also warned his teammates and mentioned that being mega killers Bangladesh can beat any team on their day. “I think we should focus on one game at a time. You know how well can Bangladesh really play, specially on their day. And they have been some great form lately,” Ashwin added.

Ashwin is happy to see 3 Asian teams in semi-finals

The eight edition of the Champions Trophy is not played in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or anywhere in Asia. It is played in England and Wales but despite that, three Asian teams will be playing in the semi-finals. India and Bangladesh are already through, and the winner of Monday’s match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be the third Asian team to qualify for knock-outs. Hosts England is the only non-Asian team to qualify for the semis.

Ashwin is really happy to see world cricket being dominated by Asian teams. “It is really great, you know. Three Asian team playing in the semi-final of Champions Trophy, a major ICC event. This is really a good thing for Asian cricket,” said the owner of 146 ODI wickets.