Pietersen: England can hit back

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The England captain, already suffering from a fractured rib sustained playing squash, experienced even greater discomfort on the field in the first Test as his bowling attack allowed India to reach a target of 387 to claim a six-wicket victory.

"We've got to try to win the game and get the victory, that's our sole purpose now," said Pietersen. "I think the boys played brilliantly last week, they played great Test cricket but we just unfortunately got pipped on the last day."

He added: "I don't see a reason to change much. We played fantastically well and if a few things had gone our way on the final day we would have won that Test and been 1-0 up so I don't think there's cause to start trying to change too much."

There have been recriminations concerning England's performance on that final day, particularly regarding senior spinner Monty Panesar who failed to exploit a worn final-day wicket at the Chepauk Stadium, allowing Sachin Tendulkar to score an unbeaten century to secure India's triumph.

The make-up of the bowling attack is expected to be debated by England's selection committee over the next 24 hours as they consider whether to field two spinners in Mohali's more seamer-friendly conditions.

Batsman Owais Shah also has a strong claim for selection, possibly as a replacement for Ian Bell, while Stuart Broad could return following his hamstring injury.