Can INDIA emerge as a Heart Fav for World Cup 2011..Perhaps YES !!!

Despite of having a dismal start in the one-day series against South Africa, there are no doubts that team India will emerge as a favourite for the world cup cricket which is to start from 19^th of next month. While playing in the conditions which are most suitable to it in the world, the 15-man squad of India which is to be announced on Monday, January 17, will surely be good enough to be put across any other team.

Though, the team India has always relied upon its batting strength while facing the rivalling teams, the pitches at sub-continent would also provide it with a bowling edge this time. On the pitches where the ball hardly ever bounces above the waist line, having a combination of Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Virat Kohli will definitely benefit the Indian side which is also one of the hosting nations besides Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

While cricket analysts are saying that India did not have any proper fast bowlers which could give tough time to the opponents into the event, they tend to forget the fact that fast bowlers like Steyn from South Africa have always proved to be too costly on the Indian pitches. Having leg side rule rather stringent accompanied with a limited number of short balls available to them, these bowlers would most probably have a cut out role on the sub-continent wickets.

Expectedly, pitches during the world cup would be low and slow. This is a fact which points out that teams from sub-continent, particularly India and Sri Lanka will have better chances of bagging the event. 

The only issue Indian team may have to face is that they all have not played together for long. There have been injuries, rotations and other issues with the players which kept them from displaying consistency. However, considering the leadership abilities of the skipper MS Dhoni, this may no longer remain a big issue for the favorite host squad.