England skipper Kevin Pietersen said the defeat in the opening Test against India in Chennai was a bitter pill to swallow.

However, Pietersen, speaking after the match said both teams should be proud of the way they played the Chennai Test.

"It was a great act to resume cricket two weeks after the Mumbai tragedy. I cannot blame the boys for lack of effort in this Test."

"There were no excuses. The guys just got off the plane and were ready to play cricket the hard way. I am proud of the team."

England had set India a target of 387 runs to win, which the hosts chased down with six wickets standing, thanks largely to a sensational 83 by Virender Sehwag and a spectacular ton by Sachin Tendulkar.

"We were confident after the first day's play. We thought we could defend 256 runs on the final day with the track turning."

"But when Sehwag bats the way he did, there is nothing any captain and bowler can do."

Pietersen also heaped praises on Tendulkar, saying the Mumbai Mauler batted like a magician.

"When Sachin is in that kind of mood, he is hard to stop him. The wicket was really good, we tried hard but at the end of the day, we were just not there."

However, Pietersen promised to hit back hard in the second and final Test in Mohali.

"We will come back strongly and try and make a match of it."

India and England clash off for the second Test from December 19.