Dhoni: India remaining focused

India are confident of being able to switch off from their stunning Test series triumph against Australia and immediately focus on the one-day series starting against England tomorrow.

Just three days after completing a memorable 2-0 series triumph in Nagpur over Australia, India have already moved to Rajkot in preparation for the opener to the seven-match one-day series.

It will involve an immediate change in tactics and tempo from the Test series, but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is confident his squad can rise to the challenge and continue their momentum against England.

"It's tough, but as an international cricketer you have to do it," said Dhoni. "It doesn't matter if there's no gap between series, you have to be able to switch from a Test series to a one-day series and back again.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India to victory on Monday in the final Test against Australia

"One of the good things about the India squad is that half this squad doesn't play in the Tests so they are still fresh - if it's the same side for both formats, it can be quite difficult switching from one to the other, particularly if there are only three overs in between."

Indeed, with Gautam Gambhir being banned for the last Test and Ishant Sharma unlikely to feature because of an ankle problem, only five players from the final Test in Nagpur are likely to play in tomorrow's opener - Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Murali Vijay.

It is that influx of new players that Dhoni believes could hold the key to India's success in the current series and continue a proud record of staying unbeaten in home one-day series against England since 1984-5.

If the Indian media are to be believed, the series will depend on the two captains, with the flamboyant styles of Dhoni and Kevin Pietersen being regarded as the deciding factor.

But as influential as both captains are to their sides’ fortunes, Dhoni believes the key to the outcome of the series will be much more than just a personal battle between him and Pietersen

"If that's the case, we might as well play a game of chess together in mine or KP's room," he said.

"It's a team sport, India are playing against England and it's all about winning the series. It's not about out-smarting each other as skippers, it's about out-playing each other's side."

Without Sharma, who was man of the series against Australia and is expected to be fit for Monday's second match in Indore, India are expected to play RP Singh in his place.