Pujara looks to make one-day mark

Cheteshwar Pujara, the India batsman, already has six Test centuries but his limited-overs appearances have been limited to a couple of ODIs against Zimbabwe last year. He has been a part of one-day squads in recent series but has been confined to the bench, and he even took to working on his bowling a couple of months ago to try to increase his ODI utility.

He is likely to add to those two ODI caps next month after he was included in the squad for three one-dayers against Bangladesh which is missing eight India regulars. "Hopefully, I will get a game this time. It is a good opportunity for all the young players who are part of this tour," he said. "Playing against Bangladesh in their home conditions won't be that easy. Bangladesh is a good team. We have a young side so it will be competitive."

The bigger challenge for Pujara in the coming months is the five-Test series in England. India were whitewashed 4-0 in 2011 when they last toured England, and haven't won a Test away from home since then.

Pujara hoped the two warm-up matches ahead of the series will help the team adapt to the English conditions. "We have some time, that is a good thing," he said. "We have two practice games before the Test matches, so it is a positive thing for us. We have enough time for preparation."

The one-day series against Bangladesh ends on June 19, and the first of the warm-up matches in England begins on June 26.

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