Paarl (South Africa): India's batting mainstay Sachin Tendulkar, perhaps the only batsman to have given Shane Warne "nightmares", said the leg spinner's unceremonious exit from the World Cup was a blow to the defending champions.

"Australia does have a lot of depth but obviously losing someone like Warne before the first game cannot be easy for anyone," Tendulkar said.

"The cricket world will miss him in the World Cup," Tendulkar said after Warne was forced to return home on Tuesday following revelation that he had tested positive for a banned substance.

Tendulkar refused to comment further on the matter and said, "I don't really have the details and moreover, I don't want to comment on controversies and stuff like that."

Extras:
Warne drug scam bigger than Iraq in Australia media