Indian team director Ravi Shastri has quashed reports of any unrest in the team’s dressing room, saying “Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have tremendous mutual respect”.

“When MS was at his prime as India's Test captain, Virat was only a youngster. There were times when Virat's place wasn't certain in the side and MS stuck by him. Such things are not forgotten. I can sense and see that respect without anyone having to tell me,” Shastri, who represented India in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs, was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

As India departed for their tour of Bangladesh last month, there were widespread speculations of a rift between Kohli and ODI captain Dhoni.

After the team’s first ever ODI series loss to Bangladesh, Kohli, fuelling further speculations, said: “Not too happy with the way we have played. We have been sort of doubtful in our decision-making and that shows on the field.”

Kohli’s comments didn’t go unnoticed and were followed by Suresh Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin’s vocal support for Dhoni. Things seemed to be getting out of the hands when Dhoni’s personal coach claimed “groupism” within the team as the reason for India’s loss.

Shastri was quick in his defence, and said the comments by the players were part of new policy he had brought into the dressing room as a director: “Honesty and openness. I told the boys, 'Whatever you want to say, say it in the dressing room, not behind anyone's back'.

“A conscious effort was made to bring this honest environment about. I cannot say if I did it or not but I have seen massive improvement. The players have opened up much more from when I joined the team. There is trust there and there are benefits there. I told the guys, 'Whatever is on your mind, rather than keeping it all bottled up, get it out'.

“There is also mutual trust among the group. They want to play for each other and genuinely enjoy each other's success. That is the healthiest quality a team can have.”

Many of the Indian players have reportedly appreciated Shastri’s presence in the dressing room.

The 53-year-old former batsman, who scored 3,830 Test and 3,108 ODI runs for India, said: “It's basically about making them believe in their own abilities and that as a unit they are one of the best in the world.

“When it's constantly mentioned and when you have results to prove it, it becomes infectious and is transferred from one player to another.

“In the eight months that I have been with the team, we have won about 75 to 80 per cent of the ODIs.”

The former batsman was confident of team India’s ability to bounce back after a humiliating 2-1 series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh.

“Yes, we had a bad loss against Bangladesh but you learn from that and bounce back. This team has been through some tough terrain, in England and Australia, and they would have learned a hell of a lot from those tours.”