Dhoni sings Twenty20's praises

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will fly back to India ready for a hero’s welcome after firmly establishing Twenty20 cricket as a game for the future on the fervent sub-continent.

The India captain returns home with the rest of his victorious team having secured an unlikely triumph in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, overcoming several obstacles to beat arch-rivals Pakistan in Monday’s final.

Before the start of the two-week tournament, India had played only one Twenty20 international, they had arrived there with no preparation and they conducted their campaign without the presence of a coach.

But they gelled as a team and triumphed by five runs in a thrilling climax to the tournament at the Wanderers. Dhoni is now expecting an explosion of interest in the shortest format of the game as a result of their success.

“It will catch up in India because they love fours and sixes and excitement,” said Dhoni. “There hasn’t been that much of Twenty20 cricket in India so far.

“We’ve had a domestic circuit but not many people come to watch the domestic matches. I’m sure it will catch up and be huge in India after this.”

India reached a competitive but not daunting total of 157 for five after winning the toss, with opener Gautam Gambhir hitting 75 off 54 balls, but Pakistan never recovered from losing four wickets inside the first nine overs and were dismissed for 152 with three balls remaining.

Dhoni stressed: “There was a determination among us. We were not expected to do well because we had not done well in the last World Cup and that was a key point.

“We also enjoyed this format of the game because nothing much was expected from us, so we didn’t have added pressure or added responsibility on anyone.

"The guys really enjoyed it and played it match by match.”

He added: “Enjoying cricket is very important and that’s what the side is doing.

"We have confidence in each other, we were backing in each other and they were enjoying each other’s performance.

“If I made a fifty, the whole team would be pleased and that’s what we were doing in the dressing room.

“The way the boys have responded throughout the tournament was really pleasing. I never had too much trouble leading the team.”