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Sachin Tendulkar cautioned the Indian cricket team to guard against complacency ahead of its World Cup game against South Africa, saying the Proteas are a far better fielding unit than Pakistan.
India started their World Cup campaign on a winning note, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 76 runs at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
"It won't be so easy to pick singles. They (South Africa) are much faster, their throwing arm is more powerful and their outfielding ... they cover the area much better than Pakistan," Tendulkar told Headlines Today.
Considering their sharp fielding, Tendulkar said India need to put up a strong opening partnership and have to be careful while taking quick singles.
Defending champions India clash with one of tournament favourites South Africa in their second game in Melbourne on Sunday.
‘Without any doubt Steyn their strike bowler’
The former India captain asked the team to watch out for Proteas pace spearhead Steyn.
"Without any doubt he's their strike bowler. He's bowled unbelievably well.
"You can't pre-decide how to play Steyn, he could also have a bad day, you have to decide in the moment but you have to respect Steyn, you need to be watchful upfront but take your opportunities," Tendulkar, who has played in a record six World Cups, said.
Tendulkar backed India opener Rohit Sharma to perform after his failure in their win against Pakistan and said opening will be the key for the Men in Blue in their next game against South Africa. He was also not worried about skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's form with the bat.
Sharma managed just 15 runs in India's 76-run win over the arch-rivals at the Adelaide Oval, but Tendulkar urged people not to put pressure on the batsman.
"Don't put pressure on Rohit, we should not put doubt in a player's mind. Rohit doesn't need to worry. Next time he will get it right," Tendulkar said.
‘India needs to go step-by-step and don't think about just the quarters’
When quizzed about MS Dhoni’s form, Tendulkar said, “Dhoni's form doesn't worry me...there can be no perfect game. The dressing room must have thought we will get 320+ runs. 300 was a fighting total, if Pakistan had played better, it could have been close as 275-300 is a normal total now."
Tendulkar also showed faith in the team and said it can match the best in the world.
"India needs to go step-by-step and don't think about just the quarters but take it match by match.
"We can match the likes of Australia, South Africa. We can play even better than the way we played Pakistan. Our batting can do even better and our bowling needs to continue same way. The series in Australia will help us... playing against the top sides makes your game better."
Playing the same XI
Tendulkar said he would favour to the same playing eleven who beat Pakistan to be fielded against South Africa also.
"I will stick to the same batting order and back our batting. The guys have started well, do not chop in too many changes," he said.
Asked if Ajinkya Rahane should be brought at number four ahead of Suresh Raina if India lose a couple of wickets early.
"I would possibly look to do that if we lose a couple of early wickets. I would want to have Raina after 20th over or so. I would not want to see him in first four overs there. I would back Rahane there.
"I feel Raina is most dangerous in latter stages, post 20th over or so. He has got amazing shots and Rahane has temperament. If you have lost a couple of early wicket, then Rahane would play out those important overs and make sure that he lays solid foundation," said Tendulkar.
‘We shouldn’t target any particular bowler’
Tendulkar also cautioned Indian batsmen against picking out spinner Imran Tahir and going after him.
"I do not think we should target any particular bowler as such before the game started. In your planning you definitely say that which are the areas we can attack and gradually start putting pressure on those areas. When you start taking things for granted, that's where the red flag is, you might end up losing wicket."
He said the Indian bowlers will have to bowl really against top class batsmen like Hashim Amla and A B de Villiers.
"South Africa has amazing batsmen, I am a huge fan of Hashim Amla along with A B de Villiers. Hashim is focused on to his game and there is no fuss around his batting, no drama, he comes he scores his runs, he gives his 100% and goes back to the dressing room. I have always admired him.
"AB is undoubtedly talented, very innovative and T20 has also taken his batting in a different level. He is definitely one of the top batsmen in the world. I do not think there is any weakness in him. He is a complete batsman according to me," Tendulkar said about de Villiers.
‘If we have to do well in this tournament, we have to out-bat the opposition’
So far the team batting first has had the upper hand, but Tendulkar believes such things don’t really matter.
"They both can score 300 runs but I would not start the game thinking that I have to score 320 plus. Normally, you start the game and then gradually keep changing the gears.
"If we have to do well in this tournament, we have to out-bat the opposition... so basically if you can go out and give your best in batting and score that extra run," he said.
Tendulkar advised the Indian team to go step by step and not to think of quarter-finals now.
"I am the last person possibly to say everything has done now and think about quarter-finals. You need to go step by step, just about reaching quarter-finals you have to end well. Forget about all these things, just go match by match, look to win each and every match that you play."
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