Captain Rohit Sharma on Tuesday warned his India team there is 鈥榥o dress rehearsal鈥� in cricket as they face a Bangladesh side fresh from a historic Test series win over Pakistan.
India lead the World Test Championship standings ahead of Australia, where Rohit鈥檚 team will tour for a five-match series later in the year.
But first they host Bangladesh in a two-Test series, starting with the opener in the northern Indian city of Chennai from Thursday.
India are clear favourites but the visitors recently celebrated a landmark 2-0 series sweep in Pakistan.
鈥楾here is no dress rehearsal kind of stuff happening here,鈥� Rohit told reporters, cautioning against minds turning too quickly to Australia.
鈥楨very game is important because of what is at stake -鈥� the WTC table is quite wide open,鈥� Rohit added. 鈥榃e want to win here, and start the season on a high.鈥�
The skipper added: 鈥業n terms of preparation, in terms of readiness, I feel we are quite ready for this game, and what lies ahead of us.鈥�
India鈥檚 last Test series was at home earlier this year when they beat England 4-1.
India won the T20 World Cup in June, their first International Cricket Council title in 11 years.
But there was 鈥榥o way鈥� his players would 鈥榬elax and sit back鈥� as a result, the 37-year-old Rohit said.
鈥楿s cricketers, we have got limited time to play the game, to make an impact in the sport that we play,鈥� he said.
India will host New Zealand for three Tests in October and November, before travelling to Australia, the current World Test champions.
鈥楨very team likes to beat India. Let them have fun,鈥� said Rohit of a Bangladesh team on a high after their first win over Pakistan.
鈥榃e need to win the match and that鈥檚 what we are here for.鈥�