Tendulkar has never played better - Ganguly

India captain Sourav Ganguly said there was every reason for his opposite number to choose to bowl first, after India's 183-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Wanderers.

"There was a lot of moisture in the pitch early on so I knew he was going to put us into bat, but we just batted very well." Ganguly said.

"We're very happy with the way we played today, we've done a very good job here today. We're a good unit, we know our strengths and we play to our strengths and we have match-winners in every position - that is the key."

Ganguly was particularly fulsome in his praise for Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a six and seven fours in a 120-ball innings of 97, taking his run tally for the tournament to 571 in just eight matches.

"He's playing as well as I've ever seen him, I think," said Ganguly. "The key this time is his consistency because he's doing it in nearly every match.

"We've won again and winning is a good habit to get into. I thought Sri Lanka would put up a bit more of a fight, but it must be said that we batted superbly as a team."

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore is backing his players to bounce back in their next game against Zimbabwe, despite two crushing defeats by Australia and India.

"The players got themselves into this - they can get themselves out of it," Whatmore insisted. "We've had a talk about things in the dressing room and basically that's a fact.

"Myself as coach and the physio and the backroom staff share a responsibility but what ultimately happens, whether we win or lose, is down to the players in the middle to put right."