India face home pressure at World Cup: Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly says Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co would be under a lot of pressure to lift the trophy when the country co-hosts the World Cup next year but hoped veteran Sachin Tendulkar's experience would steer them to the title.

Just 150 days to go until the start of the World Cup, Ganguly believes that if India was to lift the trophy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, it would be a fitting finale to Tendulkar's World Cup career.

"I hope he makes it (to the final) and wins it. That is the best way he can give back to Indian cricket. He is a phenomenon and his records and achievements have been fantastic and hopefully he can add that feather in his cap," Ganguly was quoted as saying in an ICC release.

Ganguly believes that although India will be under pressure to win at the World Cup, the side has the quality needed to win the trophy.

"There will be pressure – there is no doubt. For the home teams there is pressure, especially when you play in India.

Every time Dhoni and his boys, like Sachin, walk out of the hotel there will be people saying 'we want you to win, we want you to win it'. That does add a bit of pressure but I am sure they are used to," he said.

"It's very difficult to say who will be the winner of the tournament but I will definitely be backing India. India has a strong team and hopefully they will go all the way," he added.

Ganguly said India have enough batting talent but the team needs to work on its bowling.

"I am not a big person who compares (sides) but this is a very good side with a very good batting line up. A side which has batsmen like Sehwag, Sachin, Yuvraj, Dhoni in the shorter format – and Gambhir – it must be a serious batting line.

"The bowling just worries me a bit but hopefully they will all stay fit and do well in the big tournament," he added.

Ganguly also believes that the interest in the tournament will be huge and that the World Cup 2011 attract admiration from across the globe as a major sporting event.

"It is going to be a huge event. Cricket in India is big. It is going to be very well organised and it will be something that the whole world looks up to," he added.