DHAKA, May 8: India are not bothered by their upset loss to Bangladesh in the recent cricket World Cup, captain Rahul Dravid said on Tuesday as he prepared to meet the same giant killer.

Dravid's 15-member squad arrived in Dhaka on Monday to play three One-day Internationals and two Tests.

The first one-day match will be played in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

“That's past. We are not at all bothered about it. It's a new series and we will give our best in it,” Dravid said at a news conference after being asked about India's defeat to Bangladesh at this year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

That five-wicket loss hastened the former champions’ exit from the preliminary round of the tournament.

The Indian skipper praised the Bangladesh team, saying they had improved a lot. “They are playing some good international cricket,” Dravid said.

Dravid avoided a direct reply to a question about whether his team will miss star players Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, who have been rested for the one-day series.

“We have picked the best team. It has some exciting and talented players,” Dravid said. “I think all the players picked for the team have done really well.”

The Indian players had their first practice session Tuesday at the national stadium, the venue for the first two one-day matches.

“I think this wicket is hard and it will be a challenging pitch for the bowlers,” the Indian captain said. “But we are prepared for the challenge.”

India will play three limited-overs internationals, followed by two Tests, during their Bangladesh tour. The third one-day match will be held in southern Chittagong city on May 15. The Tests will be held from May 18 and 25.

India last toured Bangladesh in December 2004, when the hosts registered their first-ever limited-overs international win on home ground, beating the more fancied Indian squad by 15 runs in one of the matches. —AP