Shimla: Batting genius Sachin Tendulkar said on Sunday that India's chances of winning the World Cup looked bright especially after the team's impressive performances in the recent One-day Internationals.
"I really think India stands a very good chance of winning the next year's World Cup in South Africa, keeping in mind the team's run-chases," said Tendulkar, 29. India has twice successfully chased big targets this year, scoring 326 against England in the NatWest Trophy final at Lord's in July and then 325 against the West Indies at Ahemdabad on Friday. "We only need to peak at the right time in South Africa," said Tendulkar, the highest scorer in the shorter version of the game with 11,544 runs in 300 matches with a world-record 33 centuries. The champion batsman said he did not believe the bouncy South African pitches would be a major problem for his team in the World Cup. "The track was quite bouncy at Ahemdabad," he said of India's remarkable five-wicket win in the fourth One-dayer against the West Indies. India's run-chase was the third biggest in One-day Internationals after Australia's 330-7 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in April and its own 326-8 against England at Lord's two months later. "I watched the entire (Ahemdabad) match on TV here and didn't miss a single ball," said Tendulkar, who was with his family in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh on holidays. Tendulkar was ruled out of the ongoing seven-match series against the West Indies due to a hamstring injury suffered during the third and final Test at Kolkata early in November. The series is tied 2-2, with the fifth One-day International starting at Baroda on Monday. "I am recovering very well and should be able to practise within the next 10 days," said Tendulkar. He said the presence of talented youngsters in the team would serve India well in the World Cup. "Some of the younger guys are extremely talented and their performances have been brilliant of late," Tendulkar said, adding he would continue to bat at any position for the team. The master batsman had earlier said he would like to regain his opener's slot instead of batting in the middle order. Tendulkar started opening the innings in one- dayers on the 1994 tour of New Zealand before being replaced with hard-hitting Virender Sehwag during six home matches against England early this year. "I'm happy to bat at any spot for my team and I'm under no pressure," said Tendulkar.
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Tags: cricket, shimla, sachin tendulkar, india, world cup in south africa, england, natwest trophy, lord's, west indies, ahemdabad, australia, south africa, port elizabeth, himachal pradesh, kolkata, baroda, new zealand, virender sehwag.
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