Kevin Pietersen urged England to "keep their chins up" after losing the one-day series against India in Bangalore.

Chasing an adjusted target of 198 after India scored 166 for four at the Chinaswarmy Stadium in a match reduced to 22 overs a side by rain, England were restricted to 178 for eight in reply.

The tourists never really looked in contention although an 82-run stand off 48 balls between Owais Shah and Andrew Flintoff put them back in contention before both fell in successive overs.

It leaves England facing the prospect of a 7-0 series whitewash, but captain Pietersen has urged his side to remain positive as they try and gain some respectability in the final three matches.

The South Africa-born batsman explained: "I'm disappointed but we've just got to take this on the chin.

"We've got to bounce back and make sure we keep this series competitive - we're going to hold our heads up high and get on with trying to win some games of cricket."

England's next encounter with India is another day-night match in Cuttack on Wednesday, when England will make another attempt at halting India's momentum.

Virender Sehwag was the driving force behind today's triumph, hitting nine fours and three sixes in his 69 off 57 balls to secure India's fourth successive triumph.

"They had more overs of the powerplay than we did but that's not why we lost a game of cricket today," admitted Pietersen.

"India played fantastic cricket, they played with a lot of freedom, without any fear and with a lot of confidence after beating Australia.

"Somebody in the India line-up tends to come out and do us. Yuvraj has done us on occasions and when Virender Sehwag bats like that it's great to watch but when you're the opposing captain it's very hard work."

Now India have already secured the series, they are expected to rest some of their senior players in advance of the two Test series against England which starts in Ahmedabad on December 11.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh may take a well-earned rest but Sehwag insists he would rather continue playing while he is in a rich vein of form.

"I'd like to carry on playing in all the matches while I'm hitting the ball well," he said.

"I will carry on playing if I can but if the selectors want to look at younger players looking ahead to the 2011 World Cup then that's fine as well."