Pietersen focused on positives

The tourists fly to Chandigarh still smarting from their energy-sapping six-wicket defeat at the Chepauk Stadium, but captain Pietersen will reinforce the positives about their performance in Chennai.

"It doesn't feel great losing but I said before the Test we were not going to use any excuses for losing or not putting on a real good performance - I think our lads put on a fantastic performance over the five days," said Pietersen.

Perhaps the biggest concern for the tourists was the performance of left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who should have been a major threat throughout India's run chase but instead finished wicketless.

It is the third time in the last six Tests that Panesar has failed to claim a wicket in the final innings of a match.

But Pietersen refused to single out Panesar for criticism, although England may consider their options for Mohali with Stuart Broad expected to be passed fit for selection following the hamstring injury he sustained during the one-day series.

"I'm all right with Monty, I've got no dramas with Monty," claimed Pietersen.

"People can nit-pick and talk about individuals and their performances, but I think we win as a team and lose as a team as well.

"I'm not going to start picking out individuals and saying anyone is low on confidence or hasn't performed - we've just got to pick ourselves up for the next one."