Their build-up campaign has been nothing short of spectacular and inaugural champions India would be the firm favourites to be the first two-time trophy winners when the ICC World Twenty20 gets underway with the qualifiers, here on Tuesday.
The Tournament-proper will begin March 15 when India take on New Zealand and the qualifiers before that will fill in two slots for the Super 10 stage.
The opening day double-header in qualifiers features games between Zimbabwe and Hong Kong besides a Scotland-Afghanistan clash. Both the matches will be played here.
The other teams in the qualifying round are Ireland and the Netherlands.
The top two teams from the qualifiers will join India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri lanka, and the West Indies in the Super 10 stage, which will be played alongside the women's event from March 15-28.
Although Sri lanka are the defending men's champions, they hardly seem to be an intimidating force having endured a 1-2 loss as recently as in February, to India.
On the contrary, 2007 champions India are looking like an unstoppable force which will be further galvanised by the passionate support from its adoring home fans.
The Asia Cup triumph, during which Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men did not lose a single match, is the latest confidence- booster that the Indians received heading into the big event after victories over Australia and Sri lanka in the run-up.
India are in Super 10 Group 2 along with 2009 winners Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and yet-to-be-decided qualifier.
India will launch their campaign in Nagpur against New Zealand on March 15 before they go head to head with Pakistan on March 19. Their other matches will be against a qualifier in Bengaluru on March 13 and Australia in Mohali on March 27. Even though they are placed in a tough group, India are expected to make the semifinals given the stupendous form the team is in coupled with the distinct home advantage.
Sri lanka have been placed in Super 10 Group 1 along with South Africa, West Indies, England and a yet-to-be-decided qualifier. Their will open their title defence against the qualifier in Kolkata on March 17, and play West Indies in Bengaluru on March 20, England on March 26 and South Africa on March 28.
2009 champions Pakistan will open their campaign against a qualifier in Kolkata on March 16. After the marquee clash against India, Pakistan will play their remaining two matches against New Zealand and Australia.
England will take on 2012 winner the West Indies on March 16, followed by matches against South Africa (March 18, the qualifier (23 March 23) and Sri lanka (March 26).
After taking on England in their tournament-opener, the West Indies will square off against Sri lanka (March 20), South Africa (March 25) and qualifier (March 27). Not to forget Australia, who have finally begun to warm up to the format and would be eyeing their maiden title win at the tournament.
The men's event will carry a total prize money of $ 5.6 million, which is an 86 per cent increase from the 2014 tournament, while the total prize money for the women's event is $400,000.
A total of 58 tournament matches, including 35 men's matches and 23 women's matches, will be played in the 27-day tournament in Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi.
India, WI check in for warm-up
Kolkata: Former champions India and West Indies cricket teams arrived here this morning amid tight security ahead of their warm-up fixture on March 10.
The Darren Sammy-led West Indies team, which was camping in UAE, was the first to check in early this morning followed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's triumphant group that flew in from Dhaka hours after clinching the Asia Cup title, their sixth in the continental tournament.
West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo did not accompany his team to the hotel as he boarded a New Delhi flight moments after landing here.
"He has some personal commitments in New Delhi, he will return in time," the team's local manager said.
live on Star Sports for following matches:
Zimbabwe vs Hong Kong (3pm IST)
Scotland vs Afghanistan (7: 30 pm IST)