Lonely Planet

What has changed dramatically, with a sharp spurt in this World Cup due to lack of worthy competition, is the way the world looks at him. There are stories of cricketers asking him for autographs. Even Indian players, Mathur says, unconsciously give way to Sachin when he walks across the dressing room. It's with this burden of being a legend that he chose to address the nation after fans erupted back home following the defeat to Australia. Sitting in a pavilion near the nets in Harare, he had said: "I promise you, we will fight till the last ball is bowled." To all those attempting to take the Cup back to their own countries, the omen is clear.