Andrew Flintoff is to stay in India for the rest of England's tour.
The Lancashire all-rounder was due to head home before the third Test to attend the birth of his second child.
But he has been appointed captain because Michael Vaughan is returning home for further investigation into a knee injury.
"The situation dictates what I'm doing," said Flintoff, whose wife Rachael supports his decision to stay with the team.
"I'm proud to get a chance to lead the team, and lead my country. I wish it was under slightly different circumstances," he told BBC Sport.
England will have at least one and possibly as many as four uncapped players in the side for Wednesday's first Test in Nagpur.
They have lost Vaughan and deputy Marcus Trescothick, who has flown home for family reasons, and fast bowler Simon Jones is unlikely to play after twisting his knee in training.
Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, meanwhile, are still trying to shake off back problems.
"It's been a tough tour for the lads so far with illness and injuries. We're keeping the medical staff on their toes, the physios and doctor, who are doing a great job," said Flintoff.
But he insisted that whoever takes the field, they will be ready to compete.
"Come Wednesday I know what I'm going to get - I'm going to get 10 (other) lads who want to play for England and want to do well for England.
"We've spoken a lot of about character and will to succeed and all of that's going to be tested over the next few weeks out in India.
"It's a hard place to play cricket anyway without the injuries and illness we've had, but it's a great opportunity for us though to go out there and show what we're about."
Flintoff is the first batting/bowling all-rounder to captain England since Chris Cowdrey, who did the job in one Test against West Indies in 1988.
Comparisons are more likely to be made, however, with Ian Botham.
The former Somerset all-rounder led the team in 12 Tests, but failed to win any of them and stood down in the middle of the 1981 Ashes series, which he famously went on to dominate as England beat Australia 3-1.
(BBC)
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