Around the wicket: India v Pakistan watched by a billion people

From a chaiwallah in Mumbai to a modest saloon in Multan and from a pub in Kolkata to a shop in Islamabad, the ICC Cricket World Cup opening match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan grabbed a million eyeballs.

- Around the wicket: Dan still the man for New Zealand

- Also Read: Around the wicket: Pakistan will turn tables on India!

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

If estimates can be considered, it is believed that more than a billion  people watched as India beat Pakistan convincingly to commence their title defense on a winning note.

The Guardian has some of the best pictures of cricket lovers watching the match around the globe.

Ireland: From a rabble to dark horses

Ireland notched up an upset win over former champions West Indies on Monday. They had pulled off a similar result against England at the 2011 World Cup.

But the team has not always been this focussed a bunch. Ewan MacKenna of The Independent deconstructs the team that has risen from the doldrums to become dark horses in this edition of the World Cup.

From the Grounds up: Christchurch rebuilds after quake

In 2011, an earthquake devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch. Can the return of the cricket World Cup help the survivors move on?

ESPN's Wayne Drehs tries to find answers to this question.