India are favourites, says Sachin
Sachin Tendulkar, the former India captain, said a well-balanced Indian team goes into the ICC World Cup 2019 as the favourites and also singled out hosts England as the toughest contenders.
India have been in good form in ODIs over the past 12 months, winning ODI series against South Africa, the West Indies, Australia and New Zealand, and these victories put them in the hot seat as one of the favourties to win the World Cup in England and Wales this year.
"I have gone on record saying that we have a perfect balance in the team where we will be competitive in any part of the world or on any surface," Tendulkar told PTI on Monday.
"As far as our chances are concerned, I will not hesitate in saying that we are the favourites."
India's last ODI series was a 4-1 routing of New Zealand in a five-match away series, and the visitors competed in the last two games without regular captain Virat Kohli.
And while New Zealand were humbled at home and England recently lost a Test series to the Windies in the Caribbean, Tendulkar backed the two teams as "dark horses" and "toughest contenders", respectively.
"I think Australia at full strength will be a formidable side. With Steve Smith and David Warner back in the team and their other bowlers coming back into the ODI squad, it will be a competitive side," Tendulkar said.
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