WORLD CUP: Group B Squads - India

India World Cup Squad

Batsmen

Virender Sehwag (Vice Captain) - 32 - Right Hand Opening Batsman

Gautam Gambhir - 29 - Left Hand Opening Batsman

Sachin Tendulkar - 37 - Right Hand Opening/Top Order Batsman

Yuvraj Singh - 29 - Left Hand Middle Order Batsman

Suresh Raina - 24 - Left Hand Middle Order Batsman

Virat Kohli - 22 - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain) - 29 - Wicket Keeper - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman

All-Rounders

Yusuf Pathan - 28 - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler

Spin Bowlers

Harbhajan Singh - 30 - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler

Ravichandran Ashwin - 24 - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler

Piyush Chawla - 22 - Right Am Leg Spin Bowler

Fast Bowlers

Zaheer Khan - 32 - Left Arm Fast Medium Bowler

Ashish Nehra - 31 - Left Arm Fast Medium Bowler

Munaf Patel - 27 - Right Arm Medium Fast Bowler
Sreesanth* - 28 - Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler

*Edit: Sreesanth replaces original squad member Praveen Kumar who was withdrawn due to an elbow injury.

Fate and chance have conspired to build an immeasurable load of pressure onto the shoulders of India's marvellous cricketers. India are now the No.1 Test side in the world, and have a formidable One-Day lineup which can beat anyone on their day. It could be argued that they'd be No.1 in both forms if it wasn't for the Indian obsession with resting their superstars in the One-Day game. Although I suppose the prioritisation on Test Cricket is commendable. If this wasn't enough for the disturbingly Cricket-mad public of India to build pressure on their team, this World Cup also happens to be come after the disaster that was India's first round exit in 2007, and on top of this, the chance for retribution comes at a World Cup which India are hosting. For all the successes of India's national team over the past decade, there is a distinct feeling that this 2011 World Cup is the make or break moment which will define the final legacy of this golden era.

On paper, India justify the tag of favourites, as ever because of the strength of their batting. Only Harbhajan and Zaheer are really world class bowlers outside India but it doesn't really matter very much when you have a batting line-up such as India's. But at home India's bowling unit is so effective, as Harbhajan and the slew of seemingly pedestrian medium-pacers manipulate the unique conditions which only they seem able to ever truly master. The biggest discussion point over the squad is the selection of young spinners Ashwin and Chawla over Test-incumbent Pragyan Ojha. I feel the arguments are somewhat mute though. Although one of the two will likely get solid game-time on the spinning wickets, their most important role in reality is to cover for the unthinkable, an injury to Harbhajan. The effectiveness of Sehwag, Yuvraj, Tendulkar and Pathan as a backup quarter to Harbhajan are the key to India strangling sides in the middle overs. Although I have no doubt India will go the double-pace-double-spin option on occasions, logic would dictate that the most formidable setup would be to play three quicks and rely on the depth of those support spinners.

India's squad, unfortunately for anyone supporting another country, shows a well-timed wake up call from the selectors. Dozens of young but rusty hopes, particularly in the fast-bowling and all-rounder departments as well as inconsistent under performers, most notably Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, had played major parts in recent Indian One-Day Cricket. But when push has come to shove,the selectors have gone the tried and tested formula, and only the young spinners Ashwin and Chawla are of any particular surprise.

Prediction

For India it is all about how they handle the immense pressure of the home World Cup, and all its peripheral circumstances. Presuming they are not overwhelmed, then the Indians are surely favourites in their fortress-like home arenas. India or South Africa should top Group B and of the two, India are surely less likely to suffer a monumental choke. Once India reach the semi-finals (which they should easily enough), its anyone's guess.

Hosford's XI

Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Kohli, Dhoni (C), Pathan, Harbhajan, Zaheer, Patel, Nehra