The Indian team has several matchwinners in its ranks which makes it a strong
contender for the World Cup in the Caribbean, former cricketers believe.
The present side has the same balance as the one which won
India's only World Cup in 1983, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a member of that
victorious team, said.
"This is the best side we have picked. If you go through
our batting at the top - three are great players and are simply matchwinners,"
Sandhu said.
"Then in the middle-order we have Yuvraj Singh
and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This side is good enough to win
the World Cup," he said.
"The 1983 World Cup-winning side was also a balanced
one as we had seamers and spinners. The same applies to this side, who have
batsman who can bowl," the former bowler said.
Vinod Kambli, who played in two World Cup (1992 and 1996),
expressed disappointment at the omission of V.V.S. Laxman and Ramesh
Powar.
"The two players I am disappointed for are off-spinner
Ramesh Powar and V.V.S. Laxman, whose absence would be felt because he is an
experienced batsman," said Kambli.
He also expressed concern at the balance in the bowling line-up.
"We are taking five fast bowlers and the wickets will not be useful for
them. An extra spinner would have been more useful than a seamer," he said.
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