Tendulkar Bullish on India

Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar believes defending champion India is favourite to retain the ICC Cricket World Cup title in 2015 and exuded confidence that the trophy will remain in the subcontinent.

With exactly 500 days to go before the first ball is bowled in the World Cup 2015 on February 14, Tendulkar hoped that M.S. Dhoni’s side would successfully defend the title and make India only the third country after West Indies and Australia to win back-to-back titles.

“Along with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also good sides. I am partial towards India and want them to do well.

“That would be really exciting. It will give so much happiness to the entire nation,” he said.

“That is something I would want, along with a billion plus people who will also be expecting the same thing to happen,” added Tendulkar, who along with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad is the only player in the history of the game to play in six World Cups.

India, which leads the ICC ODI Team Rankings table by a distance, has been drawn in Pool B and will open its campaign against Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15.

Tendulkar, who is also the highest run-getter in the history of ICC Cricket World Cup with 2,278 runs from 45 matches, hoped India players would quickly adjust to the conditions in Australia and New Zealand.

“Well I think most of our guys have been to Australia.

“They know what to expect, (as) they have played there already,” said the 40-year-old, who was part of the squad that toured Australia in 2011-12.

More than Australia, Tendulkar’s worry was about adjusting to New Zealand conditions.

Recalling India’s ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 match against New Zealand, Tendulkar said: “I remember our match in Dunedin, where it was extremely cold and windy. Whenever a batsman hit the ball with the wind, it would travel 10 yards further, but when we had to play against the wind, the ball travelled 10 yards less!

“As there is a tour to New Zealand planned in early 2014, it should give them good exposure to the conditions there,” said Tendulkar.

The 2015 event will see 49 matches played across 44 days at 14 venues across the two hosting nations.

All 14 teams will need to play in both Australia and New Zealand if they are to claim cricket’s ultimate prize. — PTI