I wonder if it is narower than that with some/many Indian fans more interested in personalities? The adulation of Tendulkar is extraordinary. As an anecdote, I recall being at the India v England Test in Mumbai in 2006. On the last morning a group arrived after the start and it became evident that they were there solely to see M S Dhoni. He had a short innings and as soon as he was out, they left. OK, India were being hammered, but they had little interest in anything else.