India's Anil Kumble

NEW DELHI (Reuters)

India leg spinner Anil Kumble has said he is likely to retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup.

Kumble, 36, is the fourth highest wicket-taker in Test history and India's most successful Test and one-day bowler.

"I think it will be a really exciting World Cup," he told Indian TV channel CNN-IBN. "It is definitely going to be my last World Cup, probably the last one-day international series for me."

Kumble, who has taken 334 wickets in 270 one-dayers and 547 in 113 Tests, was largely ignored after the 2003 World Cup before being recalled recently for his experience.

The Karnataka bowler has taken 28 wickets in 17 World Cup matches but was disappointed after playing in just one game four years ago when India reached the final, where they lost to Australia.

Kumble is hoping to do even better this time.

"The World Cup is a tournament everyone looks up to," he said. "The last World Cup was good for India, we played really well as a team.

"I hope I will be able to play a much bigger role this time."

Kumble is confident after grabbing 23 wickets last year to bowl India to their first Test series win in West Indies for 35 years.

India lost the preceding one-day series 4-1 in the Caribbean, but Kumble thinks they will do better this time.

"We have as good a chance as any other team," he said. "We have a good blend of youth and experience. We did well in West Indies last year. We should win." Meanwhile, Indian opener Robin Uthappa says his ability to adjust will compensate for his inexperience during the Cricket World Cup.

"I have the ability to adjust quickly to pitches and bowlers I have never faced before. It's been the case with me whether I have toured Australia or England," said the 21-year-old who has played only one of his eight one-day internationals outside the Asian subcontinent. Uthappa, an ultra aggressive right-hander, came to the fore during the recent West Indies tour of India where he played several scintillating innings to give the hosts rousing starts. He contended, however, that he could curb that aggression once the circumstances demanded it.

"There are moments when you feel you can do anything and get away with it. At times, you have to be smart to come to terms with difficult conditions," Uthappa told local media. "If you are willing to back yourself and spend time at the crease, you are bound to succeed in the end."

India will contest Group B of the CWC preliminary round in Trinidad & Tobago, along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda.