England bow to Tendulkar's genius I Panesar finds nowhere to turn in India I Victory dedicated to Mumbai victims I Commentary: Simon Barnes I Analysis: Mike Atherton I Pietersen to blame for tactical disaster

Sachin Tendulkar’s heroic status will be implanted even more firmly on India’s psyche after he dedicated his stunning last-day performance in the first Test match to the victims of the Mumbai atrocities. Tendulkar brought up his 41st Test century with the boundary that secured a six-wicket victory and by doing so inflicted upon Kevin Pietersen his first Test defeat as England captain.

Pietersen, who played despite a cracked rib, insisted that he will be fit for the second Test in Mohali, which starts on Friday. Whether England’s bruised confidence will recover as quickly remains to be seen. Needing nine wickets on the last day to gain a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, they took only three, losing with 20 overs to spare. Pietersen described the defeat as a “bitter pill to swallow”.

His disappointment was assuaged by the overwhelming feeling at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium that England had done the right thing by resuming the tour after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which had led to the abandonment of the one-day series and a premature return home.

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India's victory dedicated to Mumbai victims

England take some credit despite defeat as Sachin Tendulkar says his century may have eased some of the nation's pain

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• India defeat will be psychologically damaging for England, says Mike Atherton

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The stadium was three-quarters full on the final day, the atmosphere wonderful and the reception afforded the beaten team rapturous. Pietersen acknowledged the importance of the game, saying that both teams could be proud of the way they had conducted themselves.

Tendulkar, who rarely shows his feelings on the pitch, spoke emotionally about what his performance meant to him. “This was one of my best hundreds, given the conditions, the surface, the target and especially after what happened in Mumbai,” he said. “By no means am I saying that this will help everyone forget what happened in Mumbai, but I’d like to thank England for coming back and playing. We have witnessed a wonderful Test match and people enjoyed the cricket the way it’s supposed to be.”

Revealing that two parents from his daughter’s school lost their lives in the atrocities, Tendulkar, who was born in Mumbai, said: “I don’t think India winning and me scoring a hundred will help those who lost their lives, but if we can help by contributing in some small way then we will do whatever we can to do that.

“It is a terrible loss and our hearts are with them. From my point of view I see it as an attack on India, not just Mumbai, and I’d like to dedicate this hundred to all those who have gone through such terrible things.”

The context of this extraordinary occasion will take some sting out of England’s defeat, but, as the emotion recedes, England will reflect on a huge opportunity missed. As Pietersen said: “Seventy per cent of the match was ours; we lost the last 30 per cent and with it the fixture.”

Pietersen has some problems to resolve before Friday, principally how England are going to take 20 wickets to level the series. James Anderson and Stephen Harmison were outbowled by Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma with new ball and old, and Monty Panesar looks woefully short of his best form.

Stuart Broad is fit again after a hamstring injury and may come into contention in conditions that will favour the fast bowlers more than Madras (Chennai), as may Adil Rashid, the 20-year-old Yorkshire leg spinner. Given that England dominated large portions of the match, there are likely to be few changes.

This was one occasion, though, when England’s on-field frailties should be placed in a wider context. They came here with few expecting anything other than a heavy defeat. They pushed a fine team close and it needed a great performance from a champion cricketer to finish them off.