Roy believes current India squad is best since 1983

Kolkata: While the World Cup cricket fever grips India, debate continues on which national squad since the 1983 team had the best chance to win the Cup.

Former India player and national selector Pranab Roy thinks the 2007 squad is the best available team but the one under Sourav Ganguly that reached the finals and lost to Australia in 2003 was the most potential Cup winner.

At the Kolkata launch of sports journalist Ashis Ray's book One-day Cricket: The Indian Challenge on Saturday evening, Pranab Roy said: "My choice would always be the 2003 team as the best since 1983.

"In 2003 we had batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid in their best form. We were too heavily dependant on batting but it was an overall balanced team," Roy said.

Injury-hit

"Though we lost in the finals it was our best team. The one we have this time is the best available team. It's more or less the same as the 2003 team except for Robin Uthapa in the opening slot and Dinesh Kartick in the middle order," said Roy.

According to Ashis Ray, whose book published by Harper-Collins India also dwells on the 2007 squad, India has a choice between seven batsmen and four bowlers, and five batsmen and six bowlers.

"A lot depends on how Irfan Pathan bowls," said Ray, echoing what Ganguly said of an injury-hit Irfan Pathan. "We need him," Ganguly said.

Former cricketer Ashok Gandotra said, "We have at least 90 per cent of the team we wanted. I think we have a good chance to win."