Lara: India hold edge

Lara: India hold edge
Published on Feb 1, 2016, 7:30 pm AST
By \\\\\ DUBAI




Batting legend Brian Lara has tipped India to win the Twenty20 World Cup but says West Indies can threaten once they can avoid the inconsistency which has plagued them in the past. Though West Indies will be packed with all their international stars after selecting a strong squad last week, Lara said India would enter the tournament with the edge because of home advantage.

“I think India will win in home conditions,” the former Test captain said. “Their players know the pitches and they're playing good cricket against the best teams in the world at present in that version of the game. I would definitely give them top billing. “But I must talk about the West Indies. I hope they can pick the best possible team because if they do, every other nation will be worried.”

West Indies have selected the core of the side which stunned hosts Sri Lanka in the final of the 2012 Twenty20 World Cup two years ago in at the R Premadasa Stadium. “Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo or Kieron Pollard, all these guys when they come together, there's a certain chemistry. I can tell they want to be together and pull together,” the 46-year-old pointed out. “But on occasions, we know the West Indies can be very inconsistent. We can still have the best players and be out in the first round. You never know with the West Indies.”