Tendulkar defends Indian team

Sachin Tendulkar has defended the Indian team following their early exit from the World Twenty20 after losing three straight games in the Super Eights stage. He called on fans to retain their faith in Indian players, a significant number of whom had been a part of the team that won the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

"There will be ups and downs but you just have to have your faith in players because the same lot got us the World Cup," Tendulkar told reporters in Chandigarh. "We should not forget that we are still the number one team in the world.

"The players have been training hard. They know and understand their responsibilities. Sometimes thing clicks, sometimes not."

One of the reasons suggested for India's disappointing performance has been the possible effect of the IPL, but Tendulkar said the league had its advantages. "I mean there are both advantages and disadvantages and it depends on how you see it. From my point of view, I think IPL gives opportunities to out-of-form players to return to form," he said.

"In IPL, we Mumbai Indians played so well but in the final things didn't work out for us. So it can happen to anyone. All I can say is that the players need support so that they can start fresh again and look to deliver better results.

"I know it's disappointing but it has not happened for the first time and it would not be the last time either. The game has its uncertainties. We have to see how we can do better."

Tendulkar's comments came on the same day that coach Gary Kirsten was severely critical of some of the players "fitness and commitment" at the World Twenty20.