Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni thinks conditions at the World Twenty20 could be ideal for India's spinners.
Caribbean conditions should suit our bowlers, thinks India skipper
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes the pitches at the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean could be ideal for his country's spinners.
Dhoni, fresh from leading the Chennai Super Kings to victory in the IPL, also suggested fielding will be a crucial factor at the tournament.
India have a mixed record in the two previous World Twenty20s, winning the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2007 but missing out on the knockout stage in England last year.
"With the potential and the talent we have, we should more often than not be winners," Dhoni said.
"But this is the format where the strongest teams have been beaten by the weakest side.
"The format demands that you give 100 percent and that you stay on your toes all the time.
"None of the teams can be taken lightly, but which ever teams does well with their batting and bowling will win.
"However, I think fielding will be the key."
Easy runs
On conditions in the West Indies, he added: "The wickets could be to our advantage.
"The last time we were in the West Indies, the wickets were slow and quite flat. It was easy for the batsmen to score runs.
"We have a few practice sessions before the start of the tournament and some of the other teams are also playing practice games, which we would be watching.
"We will see how it goes and hopefully as the tournament progresses the wickets will be slower and assist our spinners and part-timers."
India must do without opening batsman Virender Sehwag due to a shoulder injury, while middle-order lynchpin Yuvraj Singh comes into the tournament in poor form.
"To some extent Sehwag's absence is a bit of a concern, but injury is something that you have no control over," Dhoni said.
"There is no doubt that we will miss him, but the good thing is that (Murali) Vijay (Sehwag's replacement) looks in good nick and we are hoping we don't miss him too much because of that.
"I'm not too bothered about Yuvraj and his recent drop in performance.
Confidence
"This is a game where you are low in confidence more than once in a season.
"I personally feel that if you are nervous, it brings out the best in you because you are not overconfident or flamboyant.
"Also, in the T20 format I don't think there is anything called form. You could get into form in two deliveries and you could lose form in 15.
"Yuvraj is the kind of player who loves the big stage and the challenges that are thrown at him.
"His intensity goes up and the will to perform, so I'm not entirely worried."
The World Twenty20 takes place in the West Indies from April 30-May 16. India are drawn in Group C alongside Afghanistan and South Africa.
