India suffered heavy defeat in the recently concluded T20 series against South Africa at home, which might have been a huge setback for the team with the T20 World Cup scheduled next year. India are set to host the 2016 T20 World Cup in March and the home fans are going to expect their team to go all the way and clinch the title.
India have always been a strong team at home in big tournaments as was witnessed in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, where India played some brilliant cricket to lift the title for the second time in their history.
The T20 team will also be eager to deliver in the world cup next year and former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, believes India are a very dangerous side with some versatile and exciting players.
"I think the Indian team playing at home is very dangerous team. And they proved that during (by winning) the World Cup in 2011 in India under (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni. They have got very exciting players and versatile," PTI quoted Lara as saying.
Lara even expects the team to win the world cup, though, the men in blue are going to be under pressure at home.
"I expect them to be favourites in the tournament (Twenty20 World Cup). I know home pressure is always there. I think the guys have grown a lot and I believe they have got a very good chance in the World Cup," said Lara.
There is no short of talent in the Indian team, which includes MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli as the core batsmen of the team. Apart from the batsmen, they also have some quality bowlers, including Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, who can help their team cross the finishing line.
These Indian players have gained a huge amount of experience in the shorter format of the game after the advent of the Indian Premier League, which should keep them in good stead as well.
Though Lara believes India are favourites, the competition is going to be top notch in the world cup, where the home team have to come up with their best to win the T20 World for the second time in the competition history.
