'India without any doubt': Tendulkar predicts semi-finalists
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has predicted the four teams he believes will reach the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
Tendulkar tipped the four semi-finalists while speaking to the ICC at the start of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 after carrying the trophy out onto the pitch to signal the start of the event in India.
"It was a surreal experience to carry that trophy out on the field," Tendulkar said.
"We ended up playing here, a quarter-final against Australia, and that night was a special night for us. To come back here, same stadium, 12 years down the line…
"Something nice has happened actually. Before 2011, no host nation had won the tournament. Post that, all home nations have won. India's hosting so, keeping those fingers crossed."
The World Cup winner believes that India can repeat their historic effort on home soil from 2011.
"I hope so, because our team is playing good cricket, and if the team continues to keep things simple and stick to basics, they have the ammunition," Tendulkar said.
"We've got strong batting line-up, a very good all-round bowling attack, we have good balance."
As for the four teams that Tendulkar believes that the host nation are certain to make the semi-finals.
"India without any doubt. We have a very, very good, balanced team," Tendulkar told Tanvi Shah, ICC's Digital Insider.
"So is the case with Australia, I feel they have a balanced team.
"The third one I would say would be England. England again are a very strong team, a combination of experience and some new faces.
"My fourth team would be New Zealand. They have played the finals in 2015 and 2019. If you look at their track record, New Zealand in world championships have always done well and I see them getting to the semis."
The Black Caps started their tournament well, supporting Tendulkar's assertion that they perform well in World Cups by hammering England by nine wickets in the opening match of the World Cup.
Tendulkar's third pick, England, have work to do, although they did qualify for the final four in 2019 despite losing three matches, and went on to win the tournament.