"We have a tough series ahead, with Sri Lanka doing very well in recent one-dayers. But if we start well, we can make a turnaround," said Dravid, whose side were thrashed 4-1 in one-dayers in the West Indies in May.

India clash with Sri Lanka on August 16 in their opening match of the tournament, also featuring South Africa. Each team will play four league matches before the top two advance to the August 29 final in Colombo.

Dravid said the team had been boosted with the return of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who missed one-day series against England at home and then in the Caribbean due to a shoulder injury.

"His presence is important to all of us. It is good for us that he is around and looking forward to doing well in Sri Lanka," said Dravid.

Tendulkar is the world's leading scorer in the shorter version of the game, with 14,146 runs in 362 matches with a record 39 centuries.

Dravid also said that the team's unconventional camp that concluded Friday at a far flung venue might not fetch immediate returns but it would be beneficial in the long run. Dravid said the camp was not only aimed at bonding the team further but also gave the players some "new experiences to think about".

"Every camp has got some element which is directed towards the short term. There is also an element which is directed towards the long term. It gave new experiences to people who tried to get something out of their personalities," Dravid told a press conference a day after his team returned from the Pegasus Centre of Excellence. The players underwent rigorous three-day training at the institute which was aimed at increasing the tolerance levels in a fun-filled environment.

Dravid said the camp could not deliver results overnight but it was only a part of the larger learning process for the players. "It is a challenge to see the boys grow not only as good cricketers but also to help them grow as people. Nothing can change in one day or two days. It cannot change you overnight but it gives something new to think about, some new experiences to think."

The Indian skipper said the youngsters in the squad gained a lot from the innovative progra-mme. "The boys enjoyed the experiences and they came out and communicated to seniors. They will gain a lot from it. It will help them develop their overall personality and we will see the effects in the long term."