Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel hopes to capitalise on England’s winning start to the ODI series in India when the second match gets underway in Kochio tomorrow.
His destructive two-a-ball forty proved crucial as the Indian run chase fell short to hand Patel his first 50-over victory in 11 attempts on India soil.
"I've been here for 10 ODIs before and lost all 10. It's just great to get a win here," said Patel.
"Sometimes people don't realise how much of an effort it is to beat these guys over here.
"They're just good players in their own back yard. They play good one-day cricket all around the world but in India they dominate spinners and they dominate cricket in general.
"On past tours here we've not even won a warm-up game. To win the first ODI in Rajkot was fantastic. We lost the first two warm-ups again so we knew how crucial it was. We knew the boys were ready but what a great win and what a great start."
Patel attached added significance to the victory in Gujarat, the home state of his parents, and acknowledges that every victory over India is hard fought.
"I think the way we've learned how to play their spinners is outstanding and a credit to us as a team because in past tours we've struggled," he said.
"It just shows if you put in the hard yards and you learn you get your rewards.
"It is something good to be a part of and I think we (as a one-day squad) can achieve it if we stay calm and level headed. If we look to be positive and back our own ability then we have a good chance."
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