Is India self destructing its 2011 World Cup campaign?

World cup favourites India are in danger of self-destructing their campaign after revelations that captain MS Dhoni is engaged in a feud with chairman of selectors K Srikkanth.

The rift between Dhoni and the selection committee is a controversy India can ill afford as the team is already under weight of expectation to win the nation's first World Cup since 1983.

India is struggling to impress on home soil, with Dhoni's side finishing in a tie with England after failing to defend a mammoth 338, before crashing last week against South Africa, which blasted 7-300 to secure a three-wicket victory.

Dhoni is at loggerheads with Srikkanth over the team selection, and the stubbornness of the Indian skipper has angered BCCI bosses. A heated verbal altercation is said to haver taken place with Srikkanth over the composition of the side for its crucial final pool game against West Indies on Sunday.

According to media reports, Srikkanth and a fellow selector informed Dhoni that the panel-wanted spinner Piyush Chawla dropped in favour of R Ashwin, saying "Chawla has got enough chances"

Dhoni allegedly refused to budge and is backing Chawla, prompting an angry Srikkanth to confront the team management over the panel's desire to play Ashwin, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Srikkanth discussed the matter with coach Gary Kirsten, but under Indian selection policy Dhoni, as skipper, has the power to overrule the panel.