The present side has the same balance as the one which won India's only World Cup in 1983, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a member of that victorious team, said.

"This is the best side we have picked. If you go through our batting at the top - three are great players and are simply matchwinners," Sandhu said.

"Then in the middle-order we have Yuvraj Singh and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This side is good enough to win the World Cup," he said.

"The 1983 World Cup-winning side was also a balanced one as we had seamers and spinners. The same applies to this side, who have batsman who can bowl," the former bowler said.

Vinod Kambli, who played in two World Cup (1992 and 1996), expressed disappoinment at the omission of VVS Laxman and Ramesh Powar.

"The two players I am disappointed for are off-spinner Ramesh Powar and VVS Laxman, whose absence would be felt because he is an experienced batsman," said Kambli.

He also expressed concern at the balance in the bowling line-up.

"We are taking five fast bowlers and the wickets will not be useful for them. An extra spinner would have been more useful than a seamer," he said.