Hyderabad, Oct 5: England’s ODI captain Alastair Cook spoke about the challenge of taking on India on their home turf ahead of the upcoming five-ODI series between the two nations starting October 14 in Hyderabad. "Playing the world champions in their own backyard; it doesn't get much tougher than that,” Cook said about the task ahead for the visitors.

Cook feels that the Men-in-Blue will be a formidable unit at home but believes his own side will have no problems in adapting to the conditions. He is also of the view that the recently concluded series in England, where the hosts had whitewashed the injury-ridden Indian side in both, Tests and limited overs series, will have little bearing on the upcoming series.

"I don’t read too much into the favourites’ tag. It is going to be a very different challenge; I don’t see any relation between what happened in England and what is going to happen here. India is historically strong at home," Cook said while addressing the media in India.

"We have a record which is not great playing India in one-day cricket. History suggests how tough it's going to be but we won't be complacent; the lads are desperately keen.

"India might not have the big names, but they are very talented and this summer they put us under some pressure in our own conditions. They are more suited to their own conditions, [so we know] how hard it will be," he added.

On the inexperienced Indian bowling attack he observed, "They might be inexperienced in international games, but they are experienced in local conditions which is an important thing. Obviously it is going to be a tough challenge."

"I certainly think we can beat India but it will be incredibly tough. We need everyone to be playing very well," Cook remarked. "Half of them haven't been on an England tour before so there's no way they will be complacent,” he added.

Is the England side all set to play in front of the enthusiastic Indian supporters? "We all know what the one-day crowds are like over there. They love their cricket. Delivering our skills when 50,000 or 60,000 people are screaming and when balls are flying all over the place will also be a key factor; but certainly with this squad I think we can do something really special."

Speaking about captaincy, Cook said, “It is my first proper tour as captain but I am quietly confident.” The batsman had captained the side to victory in the one-day series over India in England this summer.

“We have got those young guys but we have a lot of experience here as well,” he said about his own squad.

“Part of my role is to get the best out of the players and help them through the tour and hopefully I can do that,” he added.

“Playing one-day cricket is a physical challenge and the travel takes it out of you; but it's the same for both sides and hopefully we will be able to deal with that.”

Speaking about the young pacer Stuart Meaker, the only uncapped player in the English side, Cook said, "I haven't seen too much of him but the reports say he bowls very quickly and he is skiddy. He has got a great opportunity in the next few weeks to show what he can do."

"He bowls quickly and he has got the potential to swing the ball.

"I have seen him swing the red ball quickly and hopefully that can translate to a bit of reverse swing as well which is obviously quite a key factor in one-day cricket in India," he said while discussing the 22-year-old Surrey bowler who has been included in the side in the absence of James Anderson.

Besides Meaker, youngsters Scott Borthwick and Jonathan Bairstow join the England squad for the five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 during the five-week tour.

"It's a very exciting [thing] for these youngsters to go on tour for the first time," Cook said.

"You can see the excitement in their faces. It's great to have that enthusiasm around. Yes, they will be desperate to play, but they also have to earn the right to play."