By Ayanjit Sen in Delhi

Pietersen was enveloped by a media scrum at England's hotel

England batsman Kevin Pietersen says the performances in the final two games against Pakistan last month have to be taken into the Champions Trophy.

Before those two wins levelled the series, England had won only 10 of 37 one-day games dating to January 2005 and had lost five limited-overs series.

Pietersen told the BBC: "The way the boys played against Pakistan in the last few games was fantastic.

"It has to be carried forward. We should take more positives from it."

Pietersen, who scored three centuries in only his second one-day series for England in his native South Africa in 2005, is a major factor in the middle order, but is happy to bat where he is told.

We missed Vaughan and Flintoff but now it's good to have Fred back Kevin Pietersen

"There is a difference if you are playing four, five or six, you may even face a new ball" said the 26-year-old, who failed to reach fifty in the five one-day games against Pakistan.

"But in my case, my technique shows and the key is being more solid. Batting at any of these numbers does not affect my performance."

He admitted that injuries had been a concern but had led to the formation of a fresh young team looking forward to playing under Andrew Flintoff's leadership.

"We missed Vaughan and Flintoff but now it's good to have Fred back," he said.

Having reached the final of the Champions Trophy on home soil last time, England face a battle to qualify from Group B, needing two wins against hosts India, world champions Australia and probable qualifiers West Indies.