India

Current holders India have enough quality running right through their side that it would be foolish to bet against them retaining the title.

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order, Yuvraj Singh in the middle order, Mahendra Singh Dhoni keeping wicket and bowlers Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan - it is enough to make an opponent quiver.

However, they have played little Twenty20 cricket since winning the inaugural tournament in 2007, their sole triumph being a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in February.

India have argubly they kindest draw after finding themselves in Group A with Bangladesh and Ireland.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain)
One of the most destructive batsmen in limited-overs cricket, an accomplished wicketkeeper and hugely admired captain, Dhoni oversaw India’s triumph in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007. If there were any doubts over his iconic status beforehand, there were certainly none after.

Gautam Gambhir
Left-handed batsman who has emerged from the shadows of his more illustrious colleagues to establish himself at the top of the order in Tests. Will be hoping to carry his prolific five-day form into the Twenty20 arena.

Suresh Raina
Hugely talented strokemaker equally capable of taking bowling attacks apart or maintaining the scoring in the middle overs of an innings. Athletic fielder and highly thought-of by many respected observers.

Dinesh Karthik
Karthik has firmly established himself as MS Dhoni’s understudy for the wicketkeeper position in recent years and has even played for India as a specialist batsman. The 24-year-old is known for his improvisation with the bat, which should be ideal for Twenty20 cricket.

Yusuf Pathan
Pathan hit the fastest fifty of the inaugural Indian Premier League last year, and his powerful strokeplay was evident once again in the recent tournament in South Africa. Also bowls useful off-spin.

Yuvraj Singh
A man for whom Twenty20 cricket was made, Yuvraj needs no introduction. He hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the 2007 tournament to cement his reputation as one of the most brutal hitters in world cricket. Bowlers can be excused sleepless nights as they contemplate how to shackle him. A left-arm spinner and superb fielder to boot.

Rohit Sharma
Another member of the squad to have captured the attention courtesy of his IPL exploits, Sharma’s wristy batsmanship and fluency mark him out as a special talent. Boasts an impressive first-class record.

Harbhajan Singh
Off-spinner who has found himself in the public eye as much for his combative streak as his aggressive bowling in recent times. He remains a fearsome competitor more than a decade after making his debut.

Zaheer Khan
Penetrative with the new ball and capable of producing yorkers at the death, left-armer Zaheer is the complete seam-bowling package. Boasts experience of English conditions from his time with Worcestershire.

Praveen Kumar
Arrived in England with limited Twenty20 experience, although his performances in Indian domestic cricket on pitches far from suited to his medium-pace suggest he may be one to watch.

Ishant Sharma
A young, wiry fast bowler capable of moving the ball either way at considerable pace, Sharma took to international cricket with astonishing ease - as Ricky Ponting and company will testify. A supreme talent and widely expected to lead the India attack for years to come in all forms of the game.

RP Singh
One of three left-arm seamers in the India squad, Singh’s ability to shape the ball back into the right-handed batsman is sure to bring him success, especially on England’s seamer-friendly surfaces.

Ravindra Jadeja
A left-handed batsman, Jadeja’s solitary ODI appearance against Sri Lanka earlier this year saw him make an unbeaten 60, but he also offers more than respectable off-spin.

Pragyan Ojha
Ojha is a slow left-armer who arrived in England yet to make his Twenty20 international bow. His variety may be his best chance of forcing his way into Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s plans.

Irfan Pathan
Half-brother of Yusuf, Irfan completes India’s triumverate of left-arm seamers. Claimed 10 wickets in the 2007 World Twenty20, which included a haul of 3-16 - and the match award - in the final against Pakistan.

Dinesh Karthik was called up to the squad on June 9 as a replacement for Virender Sehwag, who failed to recover from a shoulder injury.