No need to press panic button yet, says Tendulkar after India's loss to NZ in warm-up game

Sachin Tendulkar, who is in no mood to press the "panic" button, said pre-tournament favourites India should utilise the practice matches to learn more about the conditions.

After India's frustrating loss to New Zealand in their first World Cup warm-up game, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar stressed on not to judge Virat-led Indian squad after first game. Tendulkar, who is in no mood to press the "panic" button, said pre-tournament favourites India should utilise the practice matches to learn more about the conditions. "I will not judge the team after each and every game. It's a tournament and things like these will happen. The main tournament has not even started yet," Tendulkar said at a round-table conference on the sidelines of the Mumbai T20 League here Sunday. "I think, we need to settle down, one or two games may go here and there. India should make most of the practice matches leading to the World Cup. They should understand what kind of surfaces they might get. I won't panic at all as of now," he added. The master blaster said warm-up games provide all participating teams an idea about things to come and plan accordingly in the main tournament. "Many a times, teams are trying different combinations, batting line up. Almost all teams are not sure about their front-line, playing 11, several bowlers and batsmen are rested. Nobody is wanting to expose their proper playing XI. "All the teams are preparing and trying different combinations in those conditions, which would work for them," he said. Tendulkar picked Afghanistan to produce major surprises in the showpiece, starting May 30 in the United Kingdom. "I have said it earlier that Afghanistan will throw up surprises in the World Cup because they have one of the best spin bowling attacks. Even if they treat it like Test cricket, they will still take wickets in the middle overs," he said.