Sachin Tendulkar Backs Virat Kohli To Fire In World Cup

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, has backed India's vice-captain Virat Kohli to dominate in the World Cup which kicks-off on Saturday.

Tendulkar, who featured in six World Cups, felt that Kohli’s confidence to perform in all conditions was his biggest strength.

"I think Virat Kohli is brilliant, his biggest strength is that he analyzes the situation very well and also analyzes the conditions, the pitch, the surface that he is going to bat on.

“He picks that very quickly, and then he is sure about when he's going to collect his runs and how he's going to collect his runs," he said.

The 41-year-old was also highly optimistic of India’s chances at the showpiece event and backed the reigning champions to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

"According to me, the top four teams that I would put them in the semis would be Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India."

Praising Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy skills, Tendulkar further stated that the Indian captain would be a key factor if India were to defend their title this time.

"Yes, I think MS Dhoni is the guy because he has the experience of competing at this level for close to 10 years and he is calm and composed.

“You know, even on the biggest of the stages he is calm and composed and that is what you expect from a leader," Tendulkar told a television channel.

"A leader should not panic a quality which he has, and you know it's equally important for a captain to be in a good form also to take his team forward.

“Only one individual cannot make you win the trophy. You need the support of the entire team," said the legendary batsman.

The Indian maestro also had words of encouragement for Shikhar Dhawan who hasn’t been in good form in recent times.

"Shikhar has not had a great time there in Australia, but when he gets going, his game is suited for those hard and bouncy wickets.

“I think Shikhar, when he gets going early on in the tournament, he will be a key factor."

Tendulkar, who was the man-of-the-match in three out of the five World Cup games he played against Pakistan, felt that the arch-rivals weren’t at their strongest heading into the tournament.

"See, with time things change and so will the teams. I remember when we played in 2003 against Pakistan at Centurion.

“The bowling attack has Wasim Akram, Shoib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Abdul Razzak, Shahid Afridi, I mean, leading attack in the world I would say.”

However, despite Pakistan’s inconsistencies as a team, Tendulkar opined that they still have the calibre to compete and further warned the Indian team not to be complacent.

"They definitely don't have an attack of that calibre but that does not mean newer lot cannot deliver, they can still deliver but you know they lack that substance.

“I think Mohammad Irfan is one bowler who can consistently bowl well in Australia and New Zealand.

“The rest of the guys, there are a few guys. Wahab Riaz can bowl, but I feel they might lack consistency."

This will be the first time an India-Pakistan contest in World Cup, will not feature Sachin Tendulkar.

© Cricket World 2015