Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming feels India's upcoming tour of Australia next month will determine how the defending champions' campaign pans out in the World Cup next year.
"If they play well in the Test series, if they play well in the one-dayers, they are going to be in a very good position to challenge for the Cup. But I stress, they have got to play well for those three months to get used to the conditions and environment and that will be an advantage. If they do not, then a disadvantage," Fleming told reporters last night at a Tourism New Zealand event.
He also felt that players will need to manage themselves well to avoid burning out during the World Cup.
"They have got to manage themselves well. The best thing about managing yourself is winning. If you play well, you have energy and things go okay. You spend a lot of energy on other things when you are losing and if they have a tough tour like what they had in England, it is going to be hard to pick themselves up. Players will feel a little bit flat," he said.
The 41-year old felt New Zealand have a good chance of winning the elusive World Cup trophy when they co-host the mega-event that commences on February 14.
"I think they have a really good chance. This is one of the best one-day sides that New Zealand has ever had and they are playing at home. India and Sri Lanka had the last world cup and they made the finals.
"So New Zealand and Australia, if they play well in their own condition then have got a chance. But I think it is one of the most evenly contested World Cup that I have ever seen," he said.
New Zealand last co-hosted the World Cup with neighbours Australia in 1992 and Fleming said it was a magnificent campaign under Martin Crowe and hopefully the Kiwis could go the distance this time and win it.
