Dhoni reckons he has a strong team to defend World Cup title

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that India have the resources and players to be only the third team in cricket history to clinch back-to-back World Cup titles by winning the tournament which will be held in Australia-New Zealand next year.

"It is amazing to think that it is just one year until we defend our ICC Cricket World Cup title as that means it is almost three years since we won the trophy on that amazing night in Mumbai. The memories of that night and of the whole tournament are as fresh and as special as ever," Dhoni said in an ICC release on Friday.

"We know that defending the ICC Cricket World Cup is something that only the West Indies and Australia have done over the whole history of the tournament. But with the quality we have in and around our squad we believe we can become the third side to do it," he said.

While India won its first title in 1983 under Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd led the West Indies to titles in 1975 and 1979, and Steve Waugh (1999) and Ricky Ponting (2003 and 2007) were at the helm when Australia won the tournament in England, South Africa and the West Indies.

Dhoni’s statement comes on a day that marks the countdown to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The tournament will be staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29, with India to open its title defence against arch rival and 1992 champion Pakistan in

Adelaide on February 15.

Dhoni, who hit the winning runs in Mumbai when India won the title in front of a full-house in 2011, added that his side comprises players who have the firepower and ability to excel outside its own territory.

"We have a group of players who are experienced at playing in high-pressure situations and we have already shown we are capable of dealing with the dual pressures of being world champions and coping in overseas conditions at a major ICC event by winning the ICC Champions Trophy in the UK last year," Dhoni added.

Dhoni, who occupies sixth position in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen, said the New Zealand tour has allowed his side to experience the conditions it is expected to face during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

"Although we did not win our latest ODI series in New Zealand, it has given us valuable experience of what we can expect in 12 months' time.

"The next year is now all about getting our plans in place and remaining confident and if we can do that we will be in a good place by the time the action starts next February.

“I remember the joy that winning Cricket World Cup brought to all Indians all over the world in 2011 and we want to do the same again by playing to the best of our ability in 2015," he said.

Australia captain Michael Clarke, who was just 11 years old when Australia last hosted the Cricket World Cup in 1992, said he was thrilled the event was returning to his country.

"The ICC Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of One-day cricket and we're thrilled that it's going to be held in our own backyard," said Clarke, whose side will lock horns with England on the opening day of the tournament in Melbourne.

"The best players in world will be coming to Australia and New Zealand and we're looking forward to playing good entertaining cricket," Clarke added.

Brendon McCullum, whose men will go head to head with Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Christchurch, hoped his country will get behind it as New Zealand eyes its maiden World Cup title.

"We're travelling well at the moment with a number of young guys having stepped up against the West Indies and India. The team has had tremendous support over the summer, so we're keen to continue our current form into the World Cup and get the whole country behind us," said McCullum.