India vs Bangladesh T20 World Cup: In Must-Win Game, Dhawan, Rohit Need to Fire, Says Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara wants Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to "step up" as India face must-win games against Bangladesh and Australia in T20 World Cup. India play Bangladesh in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (Why Pakistan Can Never Beat India in World Cups - Sangakkara, Gavaskar Explain)

Speaking to NDTV on Tuesday, Sangakkara said it was important for Dhawan and Sharma to give India a good start and take the load off Virat Kohli. (Dhawan Gets Bouncer Drills Ahead of Tie Against Bangladesh)

"Rohit and Shikhar have not fired but then that's also a warning to sides because batsmen of their quality will fire sooner than later and this is the ideal time for them to step up and take the burden off Virat Kohli's shoulder," Sangakkara said.

India must beat Bangladesh on Wednesday and Australia on Sunday to grab the second semi-final spot from Group 2. New Zealand were the first team to qualify for the last-four after beating Pakistan in Mohali on Tuesday.

Australia, with one win and one loss, will also harbour hopes of a semi-final berth. Australia play Pakistan on Friday in Mohali. A win for the Aussies will mean Sunday's clash with MS Dhoni's team will be a shootout.

The former Sri Lankan captain said India had the "quality and experience to beat Bangladesh" and that MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh gave the team a lot of solidity in the middle.

Although favourites to win on Wednesday, Sangakkara said India will be a little wary of Bangladesh "because they can cause upsets." Bangladesh had knocked India out of the 2007 (50-over) World Cup in the West Indies, remembered Sangakkara.

- Sangakkara Unhappy With Eden, Nagpur wickets -

Sangakkara said Bangalore had one of the best wickets for T20 cricket, a pitch that will suit India's stroke-makers. Sangakkara, however criticised the wickets at Nagpur and Kolkata that heavily favoured the spin bowlers.

"Extreme pitches in Nagpur and Kolkata raise a few questions that needs to be answered by the ICC. In a tournament like this, you really don't want a pitch that will favour one side over the other," the Lankan legend said.

Eden's wicket was particularly a surprise with the ball turning square from the first over. Pakistan struggled after taking first strike and subsequently lost the big game against India by six wickets. Kohli played one of the best innings of his high-profile career, taming the Eden demons with great skills.