Coping with new ball will be the key at World Cup 2015, says Rahul Dravid

 The Indian cricket team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni go into this year's World Cup amidst a lot of hype and pressure of millions of cricket-crazy Indian fans across the globe.

The 2011 champions will play to defend their coveted title. But the weather and pitch conditions in Australia and New Zealand (joint host nations) will account for the performance of the visiting teams to a great length.

"Despite having a good side and playing noteworthy cricket in the last one year, it will to a great depends on how they play with the new ball in Australian conditions. I am confident and positive that they will do well and in this World Cup the teams will be required to play three good matches in the quarter final stage of the tournament. The teams by then will get set, having discovered their rhythm and combinations in place. The in-form boys will be well-versed with the conditions" said a confident Rahul Dravid.

Our batting has done wonders, but the bowling department has weaknesses but Dravid doesn't see it that way. "We have an experienced batting side, but our bowling in the last two, three months has not looked impressive. In one-day cricket when we attain 100% fitness, like in the case of Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja who lacked match fitness will continue to affect us in terms of working out the combinations. Once both (Sharma and Jadeja) fully recover their experience will be helpful. If you look at Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny, they all swing the ball and in those conditions it will assist us", he says. 

The team management amongst other issues will also continue to sweat over Rohit Sharma's fitness.

This World Cup is deficient of all-rounders in comparison to the 1983, 2007, 2011 editions. 

"We do have all-rounders. With this very balanced side India has performed well in the past one year. Like playing five bowlers for instance and also the likes of Jadeja, Binny, Axar Patel who come can bat at No.6-7 slot so India will not feel like they are lacking anywhere due to the presence of players who can bat and bowl both. It is to be seen with what combination our team plays. We have witnessed good, but slow wickets barring one or two. If these wickets gets slower as the tournament progresses then our team will benefit, giving the spinners a chance to get back into the game" adds the former India captain.

The form of the players in the current squad does not worry the right-handed batsman but he says injuries have not allowed a combination to be formed. He recommends proper management of long gaps, schedules in between games. "In a high pressure tournament like this one managing downtime is as important as managing practice time. You don't want to over practice or burn out early but ensure that the team's performance is peaking at the time of quarterfinals, when your team is set and has started clicking" suggests the talented batsman. 

When asked whether a young, inexperienced side will be able to defend the title Dravid says "It is going to be challenging. We have the match-winners. If the good squad, combination and balance, all come together then India can make it to the quarters and later its a question of three good games. However its an open World Cup. During the knock out stages form will not matter because from thereon it will be the team who can handle pressure better. They'll make the quarterfinals."

Dravid expects India to reach quarterfinals.

"Australian wickets are different to the ones we played in 2011. A slow wicket in Adelaide, but it offers a lot of turn. New Zealand might be slightly different. Spinners will do well if pitches stay like the way they have during the Australia test series."

He warns against writing off Sri Lanka, also placing emphasis on Pakistan who have something new to offer everytime.