Former captain Rahul Dravid believes the number of spinning all-rounders in the Indian team who can bowl part-time spin gives the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team an advantage in the World Cup commencing on February 19.
"India are obviously one of the favourites. They have been playing well for a number of years. It is a well-balanced side with a number of spinning all-rounders or part-time bowlers, which gives India a big advantage. Having spinning all-rounders is certainly advantage especially looking at type of pitches we have in india," said Dravid after receiving Ceat Cricket Rating World Cup Retro award after being named the top cricketer of the 1999 edition.
Dravid also feels the real tournament will start after the group stage when the quarter-finals commence with the top four teams in each of the two groups going into the knockout mode.
"Everyone knows who are going to be the quarter-finalists. The real World Cup will kick off then. I love to say India will win the Cup but any team can be dangerous from the quarter-final stages onwards," said Dravid.
Dravid said he is impressed with Dhoni's recent statement the Indian team has changed the meaning of pressure to added responsibility.
"It's a great privilege to be playing at home in front of home fans. Rather than seeing it as pressure, it should be seen as a great privilege," he said.
He also welcomed the format of the 2011 tournament and said "I wish it was there in 2007," referring to India's early elimination when he had led the team four years ago in the West Indies.
"It's a matter of peaking at the right time, keeping fit and enjoying and keeping the spirit up during the long tournament," he added.
