Sachin Tendulkar today tipped India to make it to the semifinals of the cricket World Cup which begins in Australia and New Zealand on Saturday and said that captain Mahendra Singh could play a key role in the country's fortunes in the showpiece event.

"According to me, the top four teams that I would put them in the semis would be Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India," Tendulkar, who played six World Cups, said when asked to name the four top teams.

He said the whole team will have to perform if India have to defend the title they won at home in 2011 but felt that Dhoni's experience and calm leadership would play a key role.

"Yes, I think M S Dhoni is the guy because he has the experience of competing at this level for close to 10 years and he is calm and composed. You know, even on the biggest of the stages he is calm and composed and that is what you expect from a leader," Tendulkar, who won the 2011 World Cup under Dhoni, told Headlines Today.