Captain Michael Vaughan wants England to draw a line under their Ashes victory and win in India for the first time in 21 years.
England responded to last year's Ashes win over Australia with a disappointing tour of Pakistan, losing the Test and one-day series.
"We have still got great memories and we can draw on the confidence of beating Australia but it's now good to get into 2006 and to look forward," Vaughan told reporters at Heathrow Airport on Sunday before his team's departure to India.
"There's a big challenge at the end of the year (against Australia) but first and foremost we have to make sure we play well in India.
"We will sit down and talk about the Pakistan series and certain areas of play and why we made mistakes," added Vaughan who returned home for that tour early because of a knee injury that required surgery.
"You look at their record in India and it will be a hard tour and it does not get much tougher than facing their spinners on a dusty track in Mumbai."
England last won a Test series in India in 1984-85. For this tour, they have a spin attack that has only three Test wickets between them but Vaughan was optimistic the trio of Shaun Udal, Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell would make their mark.
Regular choice Ashley Giles is unavailable for at least the start of the two-month tour after a hip operation.
"Spin's going to play quite a big part. Ash (Giles) will be dearly missed," said Vaughan.
"He's our most experienced spin bowler and we are going to play in conditions, which obviously suit the spinners.
"It creates an opportunity for an Ian Blackwell, a Monty Panesar or a Shaun Udal to really step up and make selection difficult for when Ashley comes back and that's exactly what you need.
"The last couple of years players have missed out and good players have come in straight away like Andrew Strauss, Pietersen and whose to say someone like Ian, Monty or Shaun can't do the same," he added.
England are due to play three Tests and seven one-day internationals in India. The opening Test in Nagpur starts on March 1.