From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 08:32 PM IST

India may have started their Twenty20 World Cup campaign on a wrong foot, losing their warm-up match to New Zealand, but Sachin Tendulkar will still put his money on the defending champions to retain the title.

Tendulkar said India with an explosive batting line up and a balanced team had a very good chance to successfully defend the Twenty20 World Cup title they won two years back in South Africa.

The second World Cup of the slam-bang format of the game begins Friday in England.

'I think we have an explosive batting line up. We have a good bowling attack. The team is nicely balanced. I don't see any reason whey we can't be up to expectations,' Tendulkar told reporters Tuesday when asked whether the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side were the favourites for the crown.

However, he hastened to add that cricket was a game full of uncertainties.

'I know in cricket nothing is certain. The game is full of uncertainties. But going by our strengths and balance I think we have a good chance.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)