'Dhoni is India's modern icon'

As he led India to a historic World Cup victory, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been described as the "modern icon" of the country by the Sunday Telegraph.

After struggling with bat almost all through, Dhoni played a fabulous captain's knock of an 91 not out to lead India to its second World Cup title.

An article in the British newspaper read, "The prolific Tendulkar may be India's national treasure but Dhoni is their modern icon. Dhoni is Mr Confident. But even more so he is Mr Cool. He exudes a kind of karma under the most intense stress. You see it everywhere. Behind the stumps, in press conferences, at the crease."

The writer credited Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten for turning the Indian players into a unit of world beaters.

"He, and departing coach Gary Kirsten, have created an environment which has enabled India to conquer the world. He is individual and unflappable. He doesn't play by the rules.

"He encourages everyone to be themselves. He announces unexpected selections (or non-selections) with a chuckle and a simple explanation, he unveils surprising bowling changes -- Tendulkar and Virat Kohli and a couple of mid-innings overs -- and he suddenly rejigs the batting order.

"He has been responsible for the rejuvenation of Yuvraj Singh, India's man of the tournament. He gave Yuvraj a key role with the ball and his confidence and prowess returned with the bat."

Former captain Kapil Dev said that India played their best game of the World Cup in the summit showdown against Sri Lanka and they deserved to lift the coveted trophy.

"In the final only, the boys played to their true potential and that showed the strength of the team and its determination to win," Kapil, the 1983 World Cup winning captain said.

"In the final, another striking aspect was the manner in which the team fielded, fielding was the best in the final and they played the best form of cricket in the final. Also, the fact that the middle order did not tear apart in the final is remarkable," he said.

Kapil said that he was very clear before the start of the tournament that India would win the World Cup as they were the most balanced side in the competition.

"I was very clear in my mind even before the start of the tournament that India will win the World Cup because they were the only team which was balanced. I am not saying this after winning the World Cup, I had said it before that the Indian team is a balanced side and they should enjoy their game and win the tournament," said the legendary all-rounder.

"India defeating Australia in quarter-final is not the only time that they had proved their wares better than all the teams they had played before the quarter-final," he said.

ICC president Sharad Pawar heaped praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, describing him as an excellent and levelheaded cricketer who leads the team from the front in crisis.

Pawar hailed the teamwork and Dhoni's crisis management skills.

"India and the Indian cricket team has done miracle. India has got an excellent captain, person like Dhoni who is a levelheaded cricketer and especially when there is a crisis, the captain has to react to come forward and he has shown how the captain should behave in the time of crisis," Pawar said.

"After losing two very important wickets, he (Dhoni) and Gautam had practically restored the innings and succeeded in winning World Cup .

"Sachin and Yuvraj were exceptional and their contribution in the World Cup and the team work was brilliant," he added.

The ICC chief also congratulated the hosting nations -- India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- for pulling off a successful World Cup.

"This World Cup was organised by three countries, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, all these countries have established one thing: Indian sub-continent can organise any international event in a dignified manner," Pawar said.

"So my congratulations to the people from the sub-continent who have supported and to their government officials, media and cannot forget the contribution of the players. The quality of the game was excellent," Pawar added.

Accolades and plaudits are flowing the Indian team's way, following their World Cup win, with Cricket South Africa saying India are the worthy World Champions.

"India are now worthy world champions in the limited overs version of the game and have brought a further major boost to the popularity of cricket around the globe," CSA CEO Gerald Majola said in a statement.

Majola also saluted Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar for his contribution to the game and son of the soil Gary Kirsten for playing role in India's win.

"The victory was also a triumphant tribute to Sachin Tendulkar for his unprecedented contribution to the continued progress of cricket world-wide over the past few decades. CSA thanks him for his extraordinary deeds for cricket in the past, and wishes him all the very best for the future.

"We are also very proud that one of our cricketing heroes, Gary Kirsten, could play such a vital role in India's win by fitting so well and so successfully into the Indian cricketing culture," the statement read.

After gifting Indian Cricket Captain MS Dhoni a plot for establishing a cricket academy, the Jharkhand government is mulling on a proposal to confer an honorary doctorate to the man with the midas touch.

"It is the HRD department's earnest desire to confer Dhoni with the honorary doctorate title as he is the best in the cricket field," Jharkhand HRD Minister Baijanth Ram told PTI here today.

"I put the proposal before Chief Minister Arjun Munda and talked to academicians before initiating norms as per rules. Dhoni deserves this title," Ram added.

Congratulating Team India for its glorious triumph, he said "It was a team effort that brought the World Cup to the nation a second time on Saturday. We are proud of Dhoni and his players for bringing glory after so many years.