India coach Greg Chappell says he wants to build on a new-found flexibility in the one-day batting order rather than pin the team's hopes on individuals.
"If we are relying on one or two players for our success then we are a limited team and any success we have will be fleeting," Chappell told Reuters.
India had faltered in the past if Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag or Rahul Dravid failed to shine, but the team showed resilience to thrash Sri Lanka 6-1 and draw 2-2 against South Africa in the home one-day series last month.
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Chappell often surprised the opposition by promoting paceman Irfan Pathan and stumper Mahendra Dhoni to number three to great effect despite criticism he was experimenting too much.
The one-day batting reshuffle reflected the Indian players' keenness to play as a unit.
"What we have tried to achieve is to get as much flexibility in the squad as possible," Chappell said. "It was a calculated strategy to try and challenge the guys to go further with their cricket."
The former Australia captain was appointed in May after New Zealander John Wright quit, with the brief to re-build the side for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
India lost their first two one-day series finals under Chappell, but have since recovered from seventh to fourth in the ICC one-day international rankings, behind Australia, South Africa and Pakistan.
CALCULATED GAMBLE
Chappell said his first job as a national coach has provided him the opportunity to put forward his ideas to world class players.
"Much of what you do in cricket and in life is a calculated gamble. The gamble is less if you know what you are doing," he said.
Chappell said there can be no compromise on discipline.
He was embroiled in a damaging row with Sourav Ganguly, India's most successful Test captain, who was sacked as captain and one-day player in October.
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"But if they should display that they are not prepared to fit into that environment, then there is no place for them."
New captain Dravid was quickly settling down, the 57-year-old said.
"His strength of character has shown through. He will continue to get better as a leader and as a captain.
"I firmly believe that at the end of his time as captain, he is going to be considered by many people to have been one of the best captains India has had."
VITAL ROLE
Sachin Tendulkar and explosive batsman Virender Sehwag had a vital role to play for the team's progress, Chappell added.
"Sachin's overall role far outreaches that as a batsman," he said. "His creativeness, his thinking about the game, is up there with some of the best people I have spent time with.
"Some of the inputs he comes out with is just fascinating," he said. "I'd love to still be able to play the game so I could try and implement some of the things he talks about."
Chappell said Sehwag, 27, was still improving.
"Viru is extremely gifted, we haven't seen the best of him yet in either Test or one-day cricket and that's the scary thing."
The Delhi player became the first Indian to score a Test triple hundred in Pakistan in 2004, helping to achieve a historic maiden series victory across the border.
"He has got so much more development in him, particularly on the mental side," he said. "I know he can get better at being more selective about how he plays against different bowlers."
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