New Delhi: Life as a lookalike of a cricket star can have its perks, but lately its had a nasty downside, with some hiding from irate fans after India's loss to Sri Lanka, a news report said Sunday.
India's defeat to Sri Lanka on Friday disappointed millions of Indians with the team facing ouster from the World Cup in the Caribbean.
They gave vent to their anger by burning effigies and posters of the players in several Indian cities and towns.
The lookalikes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Mohinder Dhoni have been watching their backs in recent days. In the past, they made frequent appearances on television and were cheered by spectators during cricket matches.
"When Sehwag plays well, I am treated well by people. But when he scores badly, even the lives of my wife and child are in jeopardy as people threaten to beat me up for Sehwag's bad performance," The Times Of India quoted Yogendra Shah as saying.
He has temporarily moved out of Mehsana, his hometown in Gujarat, to escape the wrath of cricket fans, the newspaper said.
Police have been drafted to protect the homes of some players and prevent a recurrence of the vandalism that followed five-wicket upset loss to Bangladesh on March 17.
Suresh Rathod said he was treated like a very important person by cricket fans because he resembled star batsman Tendulkar.
He said people's extreme reaction was understandable as they feel let down by their heroes.
"The Indian players have betrayed the trust of millions of people who worship them."
He said he had joined thousands of people in praying for the Indian team's success in the World Cup.
However, Mukesh Patel, a clone of wicket-keeper Dhoni, is cool and refuses to go into hiding or shortening his long hair just because his idol got out without scoring in Friday's match against Sri Lanka.
"I had long hair before Dhoni burst on to the cricket scene," the daily quoted him as saying.
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