Dravid goads younger players

India captain Rahul Dravid urged the younger players in his World Cup team not to be overawed by mega tournament.

Six of India's 15-man squad, including three of the five-man pace attack, for the March 13-April 28 tournament in the West Indies will be making their debut.

"It is not something that we have to be fearful about," said Dravid, on Tuesday in Mumbai, at the launch of the team's newly-fashioned Nike jersey and trousers.

"My message to the boys is to look upon it as a challenge, a great opportunity, and try and give our best."

The pace trio of Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, wicketkeepers Mahendra Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik, and top-order batsman Robin Uthappa will be playing in their first World Cup.

Dravid added, "The World Cup is the pinnacle of one-day cricket, of your career as a one-day cricketer."

India, the 1983 champions, were runners-up in the last edition in South Africa. They are drawn in Group B with 1996 champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda.