The guide taking in full from our friends at Telegraph Sport.
GROUP A
AUSTRALIA
Forget the Ashes, Australia are a different team in one-day cricket as they demonstrated with their recent 6-1 thrashing of England.
Seeking their fourth successive World Cup but lack of a decent spinner in the absence of the injured Nathan Hauritz might prove their undoing.
Coach: Tim Nielsen Best XI: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, David Hussey, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger, Shaun Tait.
Key Man: Ricky Ponting. Lost Ashes, is he about to relinquish the World Cup?
What happened last time out: Won their third consecutive World Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final.
PAKISTAN
Unpredictable and chaotic. Whether Pakistan go out of the competition at the group stage, as they did four years ago, or end Australia's domination depends on what mood they are in.
Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq offer experience and 19-year-old batsman Ahmed Shehzad the raw talent.
Coach: Waqar Younis
Best XI: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar.
Key Man: Younis Khan. Back in the international fold after a brief suspension last year. Experience important in an unpredictable side.
What happened last time out: Went out at the group stage after defeats by West Indies and Ireland.
NEW ZEALAND
A cabal of senior players has ruled the dressing room for too long, ousting a succession of coaches. Now it is time for them to be judged by the performances.
Will they stand up? Doubtful. They have the potential to go a long way with Daniel Vettori an outstanding one-day spinner, explosive batsmen and awkward one-day seamers.
Coach: John Wright
Best XI: Daniel Vettori (captain), Martin Guptill, Jessie Ryder, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Scott Styris, James Franklin, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee.
Key Man: Ross Taylor. Explosive batsman and the Kiwis' potential match-winner.
What happened last time out: Trounced by Sri Lanka in semi-finals.
SRI LANKA
A major threat on home soil and will be keen to send Muttiah Muralitharan into international retirement with a trophy. Muralitharan played in the side that won the World Cup in 1996.
A batting line up that features Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan has to be respected.
Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Best XI: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Key Man: Muttiah Muralitharan. The leading wicket-taker in Test history will retire from international cricket at the end of this tournament and he would like to go out with a second World Cup.
What happened last time out: Beaten by Australia in final.
ZIMBABWE
On a political charm offensive but ultimately they will be judged on results. Will continue to struggle at the highest level until they can find quality performers to replace the lost generation that included the Flower brothers, Heath Streak and Henry Olonga.
Sean Ervine's decision to stay with Hampshire is a major blow and the absence of experienced seamers is an obvious weakness.
Coach: Alan Butcher
Best XI: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Brendan Taylor, Shingirai Masakadza, Regis Chakabva, Tatenda Taibu, Craig Ervine, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Greg Lamb, Ray Price, Christopher Mpofu
Key Man: Brendan Taylor. Three centuries and 20 fifties in ODIs should help balance Zimbabwe's lack of skill and experience.
What happened last time out: Tied with Ireland but failed to win a match.
CANADA
Likely to be making up the numbers again in their fourth World Cup. Their group match against Kenya in Delhi represents Canada's best hope of only their second World Cup win in their fourth appearance.
Heavily dependent on veteran John Davison who made a 67-ball century against the West Indies eight years ago.
Coach: Pubudu Dassanayake
Best XI: Ashish Bagai (captain), John Davison, Nitish Kumar, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Jimmy Hansra, Zubin Surkari, Rizwan Cheema, Khurram Chohan, Hiral Patel, Harvir Baidwan, Balaji Rao.
Key Man: John Davison, born in Canada but played for South Australia and Victoria. Still Canada's best batsman at the age of 40.
What happened last time out: Lost all three group matches but made England labour in St Lucia.
KENYA
A solitary victory over Canada four years ago was no reason for celebration for a side that reached the semi-finals in 2003.
Former Derbyshire chief executive Tom Sears has been brought in to sort out the internal politics and introduce a coherent domestic playing structure.
But Kenya remain too reliant on Steve Tikolo and Collins Obuya, an embarrassing overseas recruit by Warwickshire eight years ago.
Coach: Eldine Baptiste
Best XI: Jimmy Kamande (captain), Seren Waters, David Obuya, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Maurice Ouma, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Peter Ongondo, James Ngoche
Key Man: Steve Tikolo, playing in his fifth World Cup at the age of 39 but still Kenya's best hope of a making a decent total.
What happened last time out: Beat Canada but went out at group stage.
GROUP B
INDIA
Under pressure to win the competition for the first time since 1983 on home soil. Have a squad capable of doing that with powerful batting line up, decent spinners and skilful swing bowlers.
All eyes will be on Sachin Tendulkar and India will be a major threat to Australia if they can hold their nerve.
Coach: Gary Kirsten
Best XI: MS Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.
Key Man: Sachin Tendulkar. Will relish the challenge of trying to end Australia’s domination in front of his adoring public.
What happened last time out: Only managed to beat Bermuda in group matches so went home early.
SOUTH AFRICA
A side lacking World Cup experience but the four who have played before - Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Robin Peterson - are key players.
Two outstanding pacemen in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel but spin will be a major factor on the sub-continent and the experience of Imran Tahir, who has played most of his cricket in Pakistan, will help South Africa.
Coach: Corrie van Zyl
Best XI: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Key Man: Imran Tahir, prolific wicket-taker in county cricket with Warwickshire and Hampshire, recently qualified to play for South Africa. His leg spin could prove potent on the sub-continent.
What happened last time out: Beaten by Australia in semi-finals.
ENGLAND
A 6-1 series thrashing in Australia was hardly ideal preparation but the side was ravaged by injuries. Need to bounce back quickly.
The ability of batsmen to adapt to the slower pitches on the sub-continent will determine whether England, who won the World T20 last year, can defy the sceptics again.
Coach: Andy Flower
Best XI: Andrew Strauss (captain), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Mike Yardy, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson.
Key Man: Jonathan Trott, the only batting success in the recent hammering by Australia. Can he work the ball around on slow pitches?
What happened last time out: Reached the Super Eights but beaten by the four semi-finalists.
WEST INDIES
Won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 but this lot are not in the same class as the side that Clive Lloyd captained.
Their pace attack is no longer feared, their batting is erratic and their fielding can be embarrassing. A win over Holland is a minimum requirement but even that cannot be taken for granted.
Coach: Ottis Gibson
Best XI: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach.
Key Man: Chris Gayle. Needs to find form if unpredictable side are to end run of wretched form in ODIs.
What happened last time out: Reached Super Eights but only Bangladesh and Ireland finished below them.
BANGLADESH
Unpredictable but capable of producing upsets on their day, as England discovered at Bristol last summer.
Playing on home soil will be an advantage and they go into the tournament on the back of ODI series wins over New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Tamim Iqbal will entertain but the canny Shakib Al Hasan is the more likely match-winner.
Coach: Jamie Siddons
Best XI: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam.
Key Man: Shakib Al Hasan. Impressed in brief stint as Worcestershire’s overseas player last season. Bats, bowls and captains.
What happened last time out: Stunned India in group match but disappointed in Super Eights.
IRELAND
Players needed to book extra time off work four years ago when they surprisingly reached the Super Eights. Better prepared now with 13 full-timers, seven of whom play for English counties.
Return of former England batsman Ed Joyce after five years and the pace and bounce of Warwickshire’s Boyd Rankin means no-one will take them lightly this time.
Coach: Phil Simmons
Best XI: Will Porterfield (captain), Paul Stirling, Niall O’Brien, Ed Joyce, Kevin O’Brien, Gary Wilson, Andrew White, John Mooney, Trent Johnston, Boyd Rankin, George Dockrell.
Key Man: Ed Joyce, Sussex batsman has rejoined Ireland having played for England against them in 2007.
What happened last time out: Stunned Pakistan and tied with Zimbabwe to make the Super Eights where they crushed Bangladesh.
HOLLAND
England will not need reminding that Holland inflicted a humiliating defeat on them in the World Twenty20 opener at Lord’s two years ago.
Dutch cricket failed to capitalise on that triumph but Holland’s return to county cricket’s CB40 competition last summer should have toughened them up. England will be wary of Essex’s Ryan ten Doeschate and Alexei Kervezee, Worcestershire’s gifted Namibia-born batsman.
Coach: Peter Drinnen
Best XI: Peter Borren (captain), Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Ryan ten Doeschate, Bas Zuiderent, Atse Buurman, Mudassar Bukhari, Bernard Loots, Pieter Seelar, Adeel Raja.
Key Man: Ryan ten Doeschate, big-hitting Essex all-rounder and middle order dangerman.
What happened last time out: Beat Scotland, but so did everyone else, trounced by South Africa and Australia.
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