'Strong in every format': England's Jos Buttler explains why India are favourites to win T20 World Cup

Jos Buttler believes a team like India, which is strong in every format, will make the most of the home conditions.

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has picked India to be the favourites to win the ICC World Cup T20 this year. The tournament is set to take place in India starting from September, and Buttler believes a team like India, which is strong in every format, will make the most of the home conditions.

Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler. (File/PTI)

"Going into World Cups, you probably look at hosts nations as strong as India who are gonna be favourites for that tournament. So it's a great exposure for us to play against one of the best teams in the tournament in these conditions," Buttler said in a virtual press conference shared by ECB, as per news agency ANI.

"There are many excellent teams, in the last few World Cups hosts nations have performed very well. India is of course strong in every format and T20 is no different and especially playing at home I see India as the favourites," he added.

"It's vital for us to play and hopefully you wanna win that series and take that confidence and gel together as a group has that clarity ahead of the World Cup. So it's a fantastic opportunity for us as a side to be playing against India in World Cup conditions," Buttler further said.

Buttler also said that playing the Test matches in Ahmedabad, where the upcoming T20I matches against India will be played, would help England in one way or the other.

"This is a great benefit for us. Being here and to play in Ahemdabad in the brand new stadium which may play a big part in the World Cup and no one has played here before. So it's a big advantage for us to learn about conditions," Buttler said.

"We don't know how the wickets are gonna play in this stadium but to play five matches on the same ground, the pitch might slow up and it may spin so that can be good exposure for us before the World Cup," he added.