Ravi Shastri with Virat Kohli/File photo

NEW DELHI: New India cricket coach Ravi Shastri plans to adopt a more hands-off approach to the role than his predecessor Anil Kumble, with the 55-year-old saying he has no intention of trying to act as a tutor to the players.

Kumble stepped down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli, who according to media reports, resented the former captain´s ´headmasterly´ methods.

Shastri was handed the coaching reigns on Tuesday, a year after losing the job to Kumble, and the former all-rounder promised a fresh outlook to the job.

"At the highest level, cricketers are more or less settled," Shastri told the Times of India newspaper.

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"So it is more to do with working on their mental strength, helping build their confidence, helping them stay organised in their daily activities as against tinkering with their style of play.

"It´s not about ´tutoring´ them about everything and telling them what and what not to do. There´s very little coaching at the highest level. It´s about fine-tuning and mentoring, about effective communication."

Shastri, who has served as team director in the past, enjoys a good rapport with Kohli and said he had no issues with players having more freedom off the field.

"Why should I change anyone´s style, or for that matter, why should anyone change his own style of doing things? As long as there´s a level of commitment, the hard yards are being put in and results are showing, why shouldn´t there be fun?"

The Indian cricket board has also named former seamer Zaheer Khan as the team´s bowling consultant, while Rahul Dravid was appointed as batting consultant for overseas test series.

The first challenge for the new coaching set-up will begin later this month when India tour Sri Lanka for three Tests, five one-dayers and a sole Twenty20 international.