India captain Rohit Sharma has been cautioned by former cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh recently secured their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi, marking a significant achievement. After posting an imposing 565 in response to Pakistan’s 448/6d, Mushfiqur Rahim led the charge with a remarkable 191 runs. Bangladesh’s spinners then dominated Pakistan in the second innings, bowling them out for 146, and comfortably chased the 30-run target without losing a wicket.

The India-Bangladesh Test series is set to begin on September 19 in Chennai, with the second match scheduled for September 27 in Kanpur. Following the Tests, the teams will compete in three T20Is.

Raina and Harbhajan have expressed concern that the same Bangladesh players who performed well against Pakistan could pose a challenge to India.

Raina highlighted the importance of India’s top players participating in the Duleep Trophy, emphasizing that red-ball cricket offers valuable insights. He cautioned that Bangladesh, with its strong spin attack and experienced players, should not be underestimated, adding that the series would serve as good preparation for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Echoing Raina’s sentiments, Harbhajan noted that while the Indian team is strong, Bangladesh has proven their capabilities by defeating Pakistan in their first Test match. He warned against underestimating smaller teams, as they can often produce surprising performances.

After the Bangladesh series, India will host New Zealand for three Tests in October-November, before heading to Australia for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which will feature five Tests for the first time.