Match starts Thursday 0400 GMT Live coverage on BBC Radio Four LW, Sports Extra and Sky Sports, Live video scorecard and text on BBC website
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Pietersen has scored two centuries in his six Tests against India
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Captain Kevin Pietersen insists England will not hide behind the turmoil of the Mumbai terror attacks when the Test series with India begins on Thursday.
The tour was in serious doubt after the attacks in November but England were applauded for deciding to return.
"You could say we can't lose in this situation, but that's also a negative way of looking at things and finding excuses - I don't want any," he said.
"We need to make sure that our primary focus is to try and win this series."
The spirit in the England camp remains good, but before the one-day series was prematurely abandoned they had lost all five matches and were widely expected to have gone on to lose 7-0 for the first time.
Their preparations for the Test matches have been unusual, practising first in Abu Dhabi before heading to India, where they have been afforded unprecedented levels of security for a cricket match.
"We travelled on Monday, we'll practise on Tuesday and Wednesday and play on Thursday," the captain explained.
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Over the last three days there have been sleepless nights trying to figure out things.
Kevin Pietersen
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"What has happened has happened and we can't control it, but we're in a very privileged position to be playing Test match cricket in India and we've got to deal with it in a professional manner.
"For the rest of my career, probably, that's what's going to happen now for future tours to the sub-continent - we're just going to have to deal with it and play the cricket.
"It can be stifling to a certain degree, but our primary focus and goal now as international cricketers and sportsmen is to try and win a Test series.
"We've got to chuck everything away that's happened, create this little bubble that we've got here and go and perform."
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IAIN CARTER
BBC Sport's Ollie Brett
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Aside from the security issues, the cricket is certain to be challenging, with only 11 previous Test wins on Indian soil since England's first match there in 1933.
Two years ago they famously won the third and final Test, Shaun Udal claiming 4-14, and levelled the series 1-1.
Should England defy the odds and win the series 2-0 they will move above Sri Lanka into fourth place in the ICC World Test Championship, within three ratings points of India in third.
India, however, perhaps have even more to play for, as a 1-0 or 2-0 victory would take them above South Africa into second place in the rankings.
"There are a lot of cricket issues to think through," added Pietersen. "My head has been given a full working over during the last few days.
"The last six weeks haven't been ideal but over the last three days there have been sleepless nights trying to figure out things.
"It's been emotional trying to work out what players are going to do and what team we were going to bring and now we've got a full squad it means we can choose from that.
"The cricket brain has switched on and decisions have to be made."
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