Hours before embarking on the gruelling tour of Ireland and England, India captain Rahul Dravid sent out a warning to his rivals, saying his team could have a "very good series" if it plays to its true potential.
Dravid said it is imperative for his players to maintain their performance levels right through the England tour which he described as "very special."
"If we play up to our true potential, I think we can have a very good series. We have to try and play good cricket and maintain the performance right through the length and breadth of the tour," Dravid said at a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Friday.
"We have been playing good Test cricket in last 12-14 months. Winning the Test match at the Wanderers (South Africa) was a good moment, but the next two Test matches were disappointing. So, we will have to be consistent to be successful during an overseas tour," he said.
He also emphasised that newly-appointed cricket manager Chandu Borde is part of the team management and will be involved in strategy-making.
Asked specifically what would be Borde's role during the tour, Dravid said, "Borde will be part of the team management. He will take part in strategies and meetings.
"He has so much knowledge and experience. In the earlier part of the tour, he will get to know the players and how the team works and get more comfortable with everyone."
Dravid also said that the tour provided an opportunity for the team to bounce back from the disappointment of the World Cup in the West Indies.
Any tour of England, he said, is special for a cricketer.
"There have been some great performances by Indian teams over the years. It is a country of cricketing history. To play in grounds where great players have played will be special.
"The crowd always appreciates good cricket. The Test matches are well attended. All the matches that I have played in England so far has had the grounds full," he said.
On bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, Dravid said, "He has a lot of experience and has been working hard with the youngsters. It will give him a chance to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the bowlers; he has a big role to play during the tour."
He singled out paceman Zaheer Khan, saying he would have to spearhead the bowling attack and play the role of mentor for the young fast bowlers in the team.
"Zaheer has the experience, having played county cricket in England. He also has a big role to play."
Cricket manager Borde, who was also present at the press conference, described the tour as a challenge and said he is used to handling such situations.
"I am used to these things. It's a challenge for us. I know what is going on in the Indian team," he said.
Analysing the England team, Borde said, "They have good variety of pace attack and also have a formidable line-up. The team that plays at home always does well.
"I have been watching them on TV. They are doing well against the West Indies. The batting looks comfortable with [Kevin] Pietersen, [Alistair] Cook, [Paul] Collingwood in their ranks," he said.
