'The mini World Cup' gets underway in England on Friday with India, the co-holders after the 2002 final against Sri Lanka in Colombo was washed out, playing their first match of the competition against Kenya -- a repeat of last year's World Cup semifinal -- at the Hampshire Rose Bowl on Saturday.

But despite Sunday's morale-boosting 23-run win against England at Lord's, India were still bowled out for 204, the latest instance of their powerful batting line-up failing to fire en masse.

"It's just a matter of spending more time in the middle and converting those 30s into big ones," Laxman told reporters at the squad's hotel here Monday.

"We are not clicking as a unit. Even as a team, the batting has let us down. People are not able to convert those starts into big ones."

India will be without Sachin Tendulkar for the whole of the Champions Trophy after the master batsman withdrew because of an elbow injury.

Laxman, famed for his ability to whip even balls pitched outside off-stump through mid-wicket, opened the innings Sunday in place of the out-of-form Virender Sehwag, who dropped down to number four.

But Laxman insisted this was a temporary measure. "I think it was a one-off. It was only me who had opened before in this side.

"Everyone knows the potential Sehwag has got. He has been a match-winner for us. It's just a matter of one big innings. He can turn around a match for us single-handedly for us. No-one is doubting his abilities."

India face arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston on September 19 in front of what will be a capacity crowd after the game was sold out within hours of tickets going on sale.

Both teams will be assured of tremendous support in what is set to be one of the ties of the tournament.

India have lost their last two games against Pakistan, at the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and at last month's Dutch triangular event.

But Laxman insisted the team would be up for the challenge at the Champions Trophy, pointing out how India had beaten Pakistan in major matches at the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.

"It's definitely not going to be just another game because games between India and Pakistan are always very challenging for both countries.

"We played well when we toured Pakistan. We were down 2-1 in the one-day series and we won the last two games. It's going to be about whichever team plays well on the day. At the 1999 and 2003 World Cups we beat them.

"It's definitely going to be high intensity."

And another fierce contest will come in October when Australia tour India for a four-Test series. Earlier this year the teams played out a drawn series in Australia.

But three years ago Laxman's Test-best 281, in a stand of 376 with Rahul Dravid saw India turn the Calcutta Test from what had looked like certain defeat by Australia into a victory that saw a 1-0 deficit transformed into a 2-1 home series win.

"I'm a much better player than I was in 2001 because of experience. But it's going to be a crucial series... Australia are the best side in the world."

Reflecting on his 281, Laxman, 29, added: "It will always will be very special for me."