Flipkart, as usual, delivered it before the delivery date. So I am a happy customer.
I am now using the lens for many days now. It feels sturdy. It is sharp throughout the focal length and aperture wide open. It doesn't lose contrast even on heavily backlit scene. For much lesser cost, it performs way better than the kit lenses.
OS really works well.
HSM is almost as fast as Canon's USM.
When manually focusing, distance scale helps a lot. It is well spaced from minimum focusing distance to 7 ...

Absolutely fantastic lens, very sturdy (but not heavy). Sharp throughout the focal range and at all apertures.

Twenty times better than any kit lens or even the Canon 18-135mm must say.