Pujara mindful of England challenge

India

Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has conceded a swift switch from Twenty20 cricket to Test match competition won't be straightforward come India's tour of England.

Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has conceded a swift switch from Twenty20 cricket to Test match competition won't be straightforward come India's tour of England.

Pujara is currently representing the Kings XI Punjab in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League – and will be key to the national batting order in the United Kingdom later this year.

The talented right-hander has been the recipient of a slew of quickfire cameos during the IPL – and will be afforded the chance to recollect cool, calm and collection in twin warm-up fixtures – against Leicestershire and Derbyshire – prior to July's five-Test series.

"It won't be easy at all," Pujara told <i>PTI</i>. "But the good thing is that we have two practice games before the five Tests. We will try to make the most of it. We will obviously have some plans to tackle the conditions.

The 26-year-old Pujara has gathered an impressive 1650 in 19 Test matches at an average of 58.92 since October 2010's debut against Australia.

His career aggregate versus England is particularly telling on the back of a fine 135 and a majestic 206 not out achieved in Mumbai and Ahmedabad respectively in 2012.

"The thing which will give me confidence there is the experience of playing in New Zealand and South Africa, where I managed to do alright," he concluded.

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