World Cup blog: In Tendulkar's Shadow

A  selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.

Here's a thought to chew on: more cricket World Cups have featured Sachin Tendulkar (six) than those that haven't (four).

- World Cup blog: The evolution of a budding Scottish cricketer

- The World Cup, as never before on Rediff.com

There is only one other cricketer, Javed Miandad, about whom you can say that. And I feel safe asserting that there will be never be another cricketer whose name we might add to this little list.

Think of it.

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Dhawan inspires India after Facebook decision

We do not know whether Shikhar Dhawan possesses a Moleskine notebook or not but if he was ever to jot down his story, it should surprise no one if it was titled: 'How Facebook Changed My Life'.

Back in 2004 he had been the leading run-scorer at an Under-19 World Cup. After that, he spent more than half a decade treading water. There would be the odd sparkling innings for Delhi but as the years passed, those that watched him wondered how badly he wanted to make the step up. Those younger than him – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma being the most prominent names – established themselves in the Indian side even as he remained on the fringes.

Then, Dhawan came across the Melbourne-based Ayesha Mukherjee, of British-Bengali origin, on Harbhajan Singh’s Facebook friends’ list. On an impulse he sent her a friend request. By late 2009 they were engaged. They married in 2012. A year later Dhawan destroyed Australia on his Test debut, carrying that form forward into the Champions Trophy, where he was player of the tournament.

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