The current Indian team is not just programmed to dominate at home, but are also capable of doing well overseas, feels Dav Whatmore.

India tormented Bangladesh in the opening Test at the Holkar Stadium, wrapping up the game inside three days. Whatmore, a former Bangladesh coach, is not at all surprised with the result.

“I’m not surprised with the result in Indore. First of all, Bangladesh are missing two of their best players (Shakib-al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal) and then they are up against an Indian side that’s very, very good…

“An Indian team that thrashed South Africa (in the preceding series), has to be a pretty decent team,” Whatmore, who coached Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup and is currently in charge of the Kerala team, told The Telegraph.

“Most teams from the subcontinent face the real test when they travel abroad, except the current Indian side as they have all bases covered.

“It’s not easy (for teams like Bangladesh), but you got to win your home games at least and at some point, try and develop the ability to perform in different conditions.

“For Bangladesh, conditions in India aren’t too different. But India are seriously a very strong team at the moment. Just look at their pacers… All of them are bowling well and doing a fabulous job.”

Whatmore, under whose coaching Bangladesh stunned India in the 2007 World Cup on the way to the Super Eight stage, agreed that the visitors should have done better with the bat, while they also erred in playing with just two pacers on the Indore track.

“I’ll concede some ground there that Bangladesh could have scored more runs, but they also batted in a difficult situation after winning the toss. The idea is not to bat last, but you got to make enough runs to back your decision.

“And by playing only two fast bowlers, you only made things tougher for your team,” the ex-Sri Lanka and Kolkata Knight Riders coach assessed.

Former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi, who has served as Bangladesh’s spin bowling consultant, criticised the performance of spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, taking a dig at Daniel Vettori – their present spin consultant.

“I think Daniel Vettori should be asked the question , not me,” he said. “Taijul, Mehidy are bowling to some of the best in the world, so they need to be much more disciplined. You should also be aware of how to bowl in the final session of a Test.”

The teams face off next in the Day-Night pink-ball Test at Eden Gardens, beginning Friday. But according to Joshi, this Bangladesh side is not even capable of putting up a fight against India.

“Guys like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah are certainly experienced, but Shakib and Tamim’s presence make a big difference to Bangladesh’s batting, especially in a Test match against India and in these conditions where the home team is far more experienced.”