Mahendra Singh Dhoni has conceded that India are lacking quality in the bowling department on the eve of their opening match in the World Twenty20 tournament.

The 2007 champions begin the competition against Afghanistan on Wednesday and Dhoni has claimed that the team's part-time bowlers will have a major role in Sri Lanka.

"The bowling has always been a bit of a concern," admitted the India skipper. "If you compare our batting to our bowling, we find the bowling is slightly weaker but we have experienced bowlers who can do the needful.

"We are looking to play with seven batsmen to start off the tournament. It means the part-timers will have to do a really good job so that we can sustain with those seven batsmen.

"As the tournament progresses, if we still find that our bowling lineup is a bit weak, we will have to go with six batters and five bowlers."

Dhoni are currently fifth in the ICC T20 rankings.