The head coach regrets how Rohit Sharma's side forced the tourists into reverse during the 4-1 series loss, the first under his leadership alongside Ben Stokes
Brendon McCullum says England must amend their tactics after being humbled by India, but insists the team are not about to totally abandon their aggressive approach.
Defeat in Dharamsala confirmed a 4-1 series reverse, the first under his leadership alongside captain Ben Stokes.
Central to England's demise was a failure to blend their offensive instincts with selective shot-making. West Indies and Sri Lanka, between July and September, are the next Test assignments and McCullum says the time will be used sensibly.
"Sometimes, you can get away with things," McCullum said. "But when you're exposed the way we have been in the back end of this series in particular, it does require some pretty deep thinking and some adjustment to make sure we're staying true to what we believe in.
"If anything, we got more timid as the series went on, and that was because of the pressure that was applied to us by the Indian line-up, not just with the ball. With the bat, they put us under a tremendous amount of pressure, too.
"There are some things where you can get a little bit of luck on your side and you paper over a couple of the cracks. When you are exposed in the way we have been here, you know that you have to get better in some areas.
McCullum feels England became too tentative as the series dragged on (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
"The next couple of months will be us working out that and making sure when we come to the summer we are a more refined version of what we are at the minute."
But if critics of their approach - Michael Vaughan and Geoff Boycott are among them - are expecting a change in philosophy, they might be left disappointed.
"It would be foolish of us to throw away the good work we've done in search of something else over the next little while," added the former New Zealand captain.
"The skipper and I have total conviction in our methods and we won't back away from that.
"We'll be trying to refine that absolutely, but we won't be backing down from the way we think this environment should run. We've just got to make sure we are getting the best out of people.
"We didn't get what we came for [in India]. But I think so much good is going to come out of this series; I really do.
Brook is set to return to the fold having missed the India tour (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
"It's given us an opportunity to take a step back and look at areas we need to improve and have the conviction in ourselves to ensure that we make those changes and drive the team forward."
A selection dilemma awaits McCullum with Harry Brook, unavailable for the India series, due to be back available, complicating competition amid the ongoing debate around the wicketkeeping position.
"We've got time to be able to work out what we want moving forward," added McCullum. "I don't really need to go into that anymore.
"I think (Ben) Foakes has kept brilliantly here, and obviously Jonny (Bairstow) had a decent series with the bat in the Ashes as well, so there are good options and we've just got to make sure we make the decision that we feel gives us the most amount of - I guess - weaponry to be able to ensure that we are able to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world and we'll make that decision in time."
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