(From top) Daniel Vettori and Chris Cairns at Atrium at The Park on Tuesday afternoon. Pictures by Rashbehari Das

With his boyish looks and rimless glasses, he could easily pass off as the guy sitting next to you in college. Quite at ease with the attention and adulation the 27-year-old receives from his enormous fan base, especially the fairer sex, he says casually, “It’s quite natural when you are in the limelight from such a young age.”

That’s New Zealand cricket star Daniel Vettori for you. Tall, fair, handsome, modest, charming and successful — all the qualities a girl would want in her man.

Sexy style: He has been dubbed the thinking woman’s sporty sex symbol. So, where exactly does his sex appeal lie? “I don’t think girls would find me sexy in any way; I’m way too skinny for that,” smiles Vettori, in town with former colleague Chris Cairns for a Pepsodent cricket tourney for kids.

Fashion quotient: Sporting a maroon striped T-shirt and faded blue jeans, Daniel — with his gelled hair and a largish chronometer on his left wrist — looked cool with a capital C. “I’m mostly in my tees and jeans or shorts; New Zealand is a very casual kind of place. Consciously, I don’t go all out for designer labels. I wear what I look good and feel comfortable in,” he says.

India connection: Vettori has been touring India for quite some time. “It’s very different from my country — the place, the food, the people... I love spicy Indian food, especially naan and curries. Though I haven’t seen any Hindi movies, I know quite a few of the stars out here; they are in ads and on television all the time. I’ve seen Saif Ali Khan quite a number of times. And the actor with the stubble… that’s Amitabh Bachchan’s son, him too! Besides, our team-mate Deepak Patel filled us in with some juicy gossip from time to time,” he adds with a wink.

Ash effect: “There are way too many gorgeous Indian women to be able to name just a few. Aishwarya Rai, in my opinion, is very beautiful...”

Family facts: First the good news: he’s still a bachelor. Then the bad news: “I’ve been seeing this girl for nearly two years now. Marriage is on the cards but not right now. I’m just 27!”

Short curly locks, stubble on reddish cheeks, athletic frame… former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns is all that and much more. A loyal husband, a devoted father, a man of many interests, Cairns is enjoying every bit of life beyond cricket — at present, he is hopping six Indian metros in six days for the Pepsodent promotionals. There’s also work for his charity organisation and other business plans.

Cairns exudes a sensual feel, a raw sex appeal with his muscular frame and piercing light brown eyes.

Sexy style: Rugged looks with the right mix of dashing and dapper. “It feels nice to receive attention and be called hot by women. But I’d rather stay away from all that; it would make my wife very angry,” he laughs.

Fashion quotient: Dressed in a beige T-shirt, dark blue jeans and slippers, casual is his code. “I have very classical tastes; I don’t let myself be ruled by trends. For formal occasions, I love wearing a well-tailored suit. But if it’s a casual outing, you’ll find me dressed just the way I am now.” Do designer labels draw him? “Not that they attract me much, but I like clothes from Giorgio Armani and D&G,” he says. “I have also seen outfits by Indian fashion designers, but I think they are way too loud for me. I like wearing blacks, blues and whites.”

India connection: Next stop for his charity foundation is India. “The documentation is under process and until then we can’t raise funds here. We would like to work for child education in India, though in New Zealand we are involved with (safety at) rail crossings; I lost my sister in one such accident.”

Wow wife: “My wife is the most beautiful woman in this world,” he says without batting an eyelid. Prod him further and he adds, “I want to play this safe. Of course, there are other women who look nice. Indian women, for sure. There are so many Miss Worlds from India.”

Family facts: “I’m a very happy man, touch wood. I have a lovely wife who is from South Africa and two boys, aged three and four.”