India's overnight sensation Kedar Jadhav says the loss of early wickets helped him take apart England's bowling attack in Pune on Sunday and he has promised to try and repeat the feat.

Something of a late bloomer at 31, Jadhav only had 12 one-day international appearances and a single century, recorded in Zimbabwe, to his name going into the weekend's series opener. 

The days of relative anonymity may be over now, though, after Jadhav plundered 120 from just 76 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes, at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Putting on a fifth-wicket stand worth 200 alongside fellow centurion and newly appointed limited-overs captain Virat Kohli, Jadhav helped the hosts chase down the imposing target of 350 to make a winning start to the three-match contest.

And he claimed the secret of his success was the need to keep the run-rate ticking over at a brisk pace.

"Since we were four down, England were looking to attack," Jadhav said. 

"It was good that many fielders were in catching positions rather than saving boundaries. 

"The wicket was good for batting, so I had a lot of gaps to score boundaries. 

"And my natural game is to try and dominate the opposition whenever I bat. I look to take the bowlers on. 

"So I was just playing in that flow, and because we had to chase 350, irrespective of the situation, we had to maintain the tempo."

All eyes, including those of an England team keen for revenge, are likely to be on Jadhav when the second ODI takes place in Cuttack on Thursday.