 New Delhi, Sept 4: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has endorsed India as a strong contender for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He said that the Indian team is a “balanced side” and will be “tough to beat” in the limited overs cricket.
After enduring yet another Test series defeat abroad, MS Dhoni and Co. fought back to clinch the five-match ODI series 3-0 in England with one match still to play. Talking to the Hindu, Tendulkar said, “It is a versatile ODI team. There is depth in batting and variety in bowling. And the fielding has been brilliant.”
India will start their title defence on February 15 against arch-rivals Pakistan at Adelaide Oval, in a Pool B clash. South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and United Arab Emirates are the other teams in the group. In the 14-team tournament, the top four teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
If you look at batting, there is a good mix of the right and the left-handers," he said. "When a right-left combination is at the crease, it becomes a lot harder for the bowlers. They have to find the right line. In bowling, the Indians have been bowling well in partnerships. There are some good pace and spin options at different stages of the innings.
Now the owner of Kerala Blasters, an Indian Super League (ISL) team, Sachin Tendulkar won the World Cup in 2011 and he described it as “the proudest moment of my life.” And he exuded the confidence that the current lot has the ability to defend the title and bring the trophy back home. |
