CHENNAI, India (CMC):

WEST INDIES captain Brian Lara has dismissed suggestions his contemporary Sachin Tendulkar is in a slump and has backed the Indian batting star to shine at the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean later this year.

Tendulkar scored 31 and nought in the first two one-day internationals of the four-match series against West Indies before a solid 60 yesterday and Lara said there was no cause for concern.

"I am in awe of Sachin. He has done so much for cricket in India. You may see Sachin back to his best in the World Cup. I don't think Sachin is going through any bad patch," the Indo-Asian News Service quoted Lara, the record holder for the highest scores in Test and first-class cricket, as saying. "I have had more ups and downs than Sachin. He is going to be 'the' batsman in the World Cup." Lara and Tendulkar are regarded as the best batsmen in the contemporary game.

While Lara has 11,953 runs in Tests and 10,050 in ODIs, Tendulkar has amassed 10,668 runs in Tests and 14,568 runs in the shorter version of the game.

Tendulkar has struggled since his return from injury in August and has managed just one century and two half-centuries in 13 ODI innings. India will join Sri Lanka, Bermuda and Bangladesh in Trinidad and Tobago as they contest Group B of the opening round of the Cricket World Cup in March.