An important factor in Emerald Isle

Cricket loving Delhiites would be eagerly looking down south for the next three weeks.

Cricket loving Delhiites would be eagerly looking down south for the next three weeks. Ever since the rise of the last wonderboy -- Virender Sehwag -- in international cricket some five years back, cricket lovers in the Capital are desperate for another of his kind.

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As the Indian under-19 boys prepare to give final shape to their plans for the junior World Cup, there would be one Delhi batsman -- Mayank Tehlan - with a prominent role in implementing them. Tehlan's role is important for the Indian team's chances in this prestigious tournament. In fact, he would be a crucial factor around whom the opponent's strategies would revolve.

Given his status as an explosive batsman a la cousin Sehwag, this 18-year-old Ranji player has every stroke in his armoury to blast the opposition bowlers. Those in doubt can confirm it with Maharashtra who were at the receiving end when he hit 176 in his debut innings this season. Even experienced bowlers like Munaf Patel and Sairaj Bahutule were unable to stop him from playing one of the best innings by any debutant.

However, as has been the case with many others, Tehlan also caved in under the weight of great expectation.

His next few innings were not ones he would like to remember. Mostly, he got out while trying to hit bowlers right in the beginning of his innings. One would only expect this young Delhi lad would not repeat the same mistakes in Lanka. Because his very presence at the wicket could well decide the fate of the Indian juniors. And, who knows, his own future too!