India Cannot Take Bangladesh Lightly: Cheteshwar Pujara

India will look to continue their winning run when they take on Bangladesh in a one-off Test, said Cheteshwar Pujara but also added that they are not taking their neighbouring opponents lightly. India will take on Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad from February 9 to 13. Out of the eight Tests played between the two sides, India have won six while two have been draws. This will be Bangladesh's first Test in India.

"They have been playing well in the sub-continent. So, probably, that is one team that have done well against England. We can't take them lightly. But, at the same time, we played very good cricket in 2016. So, probably, we would stick to the same thing. We are number one team in the world at the moment. We would like to maintain that, the way we played our cricket in 2016, we would like to repeat the same thing in 2017," Pujara told reporters in Hyderabad.

The Indian team arrived here on a high, having tasted success against England in all the three formats.

"When it comes to strategy, we will have a chat about it later on. But I think if we play good cricket, we can definitely beat them," Pujara said.

Noting that the playing conditions would not be much of an issue as they are almost similar in the sub-continent, Pujara said the team that played good cricket would win.

The white ball makes way for the red as #TeamIndia prepare for the upcoming Test against Bangladesh. #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/y4YDsiAi61

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 6, 2017

"I think it will be a fair contest. Because, when we tour Bangladesh, we have a similar experience. When we tour Bangladesh, we get similar conditions. I don't think for them conditions will matter a lot. Whoever plays good cricket, I think they will have an opportunity to win this game.

#TeamIndia would like to carry forward the winning momentum from 2016 against Bangladesh, says batsman @cheteshwar1 #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/vc2xrEyUVa

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 6, 2017

"Probably, we will have the upper hand because the way we played last year in 2016, fast bowlers bowled well, lower order continues to hit and batsmen have been batting well. One thing I believe is that if we play as a team and we play to our potential, we will have the upper hand in this game," he said.

Replying to a query, he said hectic scheduling is not an issue as the players are young and fit.

"I think it is always good to play cricket. So, whether it is hectic schedule, I always believe that cricketers, all of us are young and we always enjoy playing cricket," Pujara said.

Asked about Bangladesh's Mehadi Hassan, Pujara said the youngster did well against England and that he can't speak more on the player until he faced him.

"I have seen him bowled little bit against England. Looks like a good bowler but, when I play, I will be able to know much about him. He bowled well against England and that was a different wicket altogether. There was a lot of turn on that particular wicket. Both the Test matches, he bowled well. So, I can't comment much on his bowling just looking at it from television. Once I face him I will be able to comment much," he said.

(With PTI inputs)