Hearty congratulations to the Indian team. Their indomitable spirit proved decisive in the end. Not having a reputation to live up to was the blessing in disguise. M.S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh did not rise to expectations in the final and yet India pulled it off thanks to players accepting responsibility and not getting overawed by the big stage.

The decisive factor was the fearless approach from a bunch of youngsters in a format that is still foreign to many. Both teams made the final a memorable affair. The one making the elementary error under pressure was likely to lose, as it happened when the usually cool and collected Misbah-ul-Haq played the slog flip shot. His innings may have made all the difference between one nation rejoicing and another left in despair. Actually, there was not much to choose between the two sides.

There were many positives India can draw from this campaign, the foremost being the captaincy of Dhoni who remained unruffled throughout the championship. His calming influence was the fulcrum around which the Indian team revolved. Each win was constructed by the nucleus of the side, with the team effort helping to shatter many myths, the first of course being that some are indispensable. If there was one player unable to deliver under pressure, there were two putting their hands up to chip in.

T20 cricket has caught the imagination of the public and this win will, I hope, herald a new era. Just as there were one-day specialists trying to make a mark in the early90’s, there will be a set of players who will train their thoughts and mind entirely to suit the demands of this format.

By winning the toss, Dhoni did a huge favour to his side. The pressure of an ICC World Twenty20 final, which too against Pakistan would have made any target an uphill task for India. Gautam Gambhir who received so much flak for not coming good against quality opposition silenced his critics with a knock that gave his team a great chance to fight. His shot selection was sublime and effective at the same time. Rohit Sharma was a revelation; the youngster came good whenever an opportunity presented itself.

The target was never going to be tough if Pakistan resorted to percentage cricket but then calmness is never easily achieved in an India-Pakistan clash. The pressure gets to you at some point and the mistakes start creeping in. Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik went into a shell and handed the match to India.

Misbah is a player who takes calculated risks and believes in the theory the match is not over until the last ball. It reminded me of the great Javed Miandad who pulled the rug out from under our feet on numerous occasions.

R.P. Singh delivered when it mattered and so did Irfan Pathan with his canny slow cutters against which the entire pace and power had to be generated by the batsmen. Joginder and the Pathan siblings provided batsmen with no pace to strike.

It was a tactical ploy that worked on a wicket that slowed down a touch towards the end of the Pakistan innings.

Hearty congratulations to the Indian team. Their indomitable spirit proved decisive in the end. Not having a reputation to live up to was the blessing in disguise. M.S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh did not rise to expectations in the final and yet India pulled it off thanks to players accepting responsibility and not getting overawed by the big stage.

The decisive factor was the fearless approach from a bunch of youngsters in a format that is still foreign to many. Both teams made the final a memorable affair. The one making the elementary error under pressure was likely to lose, as it happened when the usually cool and collected Misbah-ul-Haq played the slog flip shot. His innings may have made all the difference between one nation rejoicing and another left in despair. Actually, there was not much to choose between the two sides.

There were many positives India can draw from this campaign, the foremost being the captaincy of Dhoni who remained unruffled throughout the championship. His calming influence was the fulcrum around which the Indian team revolved. Each win was constructed by the nucleus of the side, with the team effort helping to shatter many myths, the first of course being that some are indispensable. If there was one player unable to deliver under pressure, there were two putting their hands up to chip in.

T20 cricket has caught the imagination of the public and this win will, I hope, herald a new era. Just as there were one-day specialists trying to make a mark in the early90’s, there will be a set of players who will train their thoughts and mind entirely to suit the demands of this format.

By winning the toss, Dhoni did a huge favour to his side. The pressure of an ICC World Twenty20 final, which too against Pakistan would have made any target an uphill task for India. Gautam Gambhir who received so much flak for not coming good against quality opposition silenced his critics with a knock that gave his team a great chance to fight. His shot selection was sublime and effective at the same time. Rohit Sharma was a revelation; the youngster came good whenever an opportunity presented itself.

The target was never going to be tough if Pakistan resorted to percentage cricket but then calmness is never easily achieved in an India-Pakistan clash. The pressure gets to you at some point and the mistakes start creeping in. Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik went into a shell and handed the match to India.

Misbah is a player who takes calculated risks and believes in the theory the match is not over until the last ball. It reminded me of the great Javed Miandad who pulled the rug out from under our feet on numerous occasions.

R.P. Singh delivered when it mattered and so did Irfan Pathan with his canny slow cutters against which the entire pace and power had to be generated by the batsmen. Joginder and the Pathan siblings provided batsmen with no pace to strike.

It was a tactical ploy that worked on a wicket that slowed down a touch towards the end of the Pakistan innings.

Hyderabad: S. Sreesanth, India's man of the moment, felt "the weight of the world" on his shoulders as Misbah-ul Haq's scoop headed his way, with five runs required off three balls in that nail-biting ICC World Twenty20 final.

"It was not as easy as it looked. The moment the ball went up in the air, I said to myself 'Oh! God, not me again'. However, I composed myself to stick to the basics, never took my eyes off the ball and never lost my head after it safely landed in my hands," Sreesanth told this correspondent over phone on Wednesday amidst the hectic celebrations in Mumbai.

He was quick to add: "Thanks to the anticipation drilled in by fielding coach Robin Singh, I had made some ground the moment Misbah moved to knock it over."

Sreesanth was also the one to knock off Pakistan in the group match that India won with a bowl-out, and the victim again was Misbah.

Are we seeing an individual rivalry building within a team game? "Maybe," Sreesanth said. "I walked up to him after the match and said 'hard luck' and he replied, "all the best for the next match". India plays Pakistan again in November on home soil and expect more fireworks.

The volatile Kerala quick maintained that India and Pakistan players were good friends off the field. "We go out after any team on the field but nothing that happens on the ground goes outside the ground," he said.

At the team hotel, the squads were only one floor apart, India on the 19th and Pakistan on the 20th floor. "We bumped into each other frequently and we were friendly," Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth said he had set up a challenge for Pakistan. He told the Pakistan team's local manager after the bowl-out that should both sides reach the final, India would win again. "After the final, I clasped his hand and reminded him 'dekh liya? Maine bola tha na?' (Didn't I tell you)," Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth was amazed that he got the chance to close out tough high-pressure matches - the ones against Pakistan and Australia in the semifinals. "I don't know how I get connected with testing situations... maybe I am the chosen one," he laughed.

Sreesanth comes across as an aggressive bloke but away from the field life is song and dance. He has written two of the 10 songs in Desh, an album of patriotic songs cut by his brother-in-law Madhu Balakrishnan, South Indian playback singer.

Hyderabad: S. Sreesanth, India's man of the moment, felt "the weight of the world" on his shoulders as Misbah-ul Haq's scoop headed his way, with five runs required off three balls in that nail-biting ICC World Twenty20 final.

"It was not as easy as it looked. The moment the ball went up in the air, I said to myself 'Oh! God, not me again'. However, I composed myself to stick to the basics, never took my eyes off the ball and never lost my head after it safely landed in my hands," Sreesanth told this correspondent over phone on Wednesday amidst the hectic celebrations in Mumbai.

He was quick to add: "Thanks to the anticipation drilled in by fielding coach Robin Singh, I had made some ground the moment Misbah moved to knock it over."

Sreesanth was also the one to knock off Pakistan in the group match that India won with a bowl-out, and the victim again was Misbah.

Are we seeing an individual rivalry building within a team game? "Maybe," Sreesanth said. "I walked up to him after the match and said 'hard luck' and he replied, "all the best for the next match". India plays Pakistan again in November on home soil and expect more fireworks.

The volatile Kerala quick maintained that India and Pakistan players were good friends off the field. "We go out after any team on the field but nothing that happens on the ground goes outside the ground," he said.

At the team hotel, the squads were only one floor apart, India on the 19th and Pakistan on the 20th floor. "We bumped into each other frequently and we were friendly," Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth said he had set up a challenge for Pakistan. He told the Pakistan team's local manager after the bowl-out that should both sides reach the final, India would win again. "After the final, I clasped his hand and reminded him 'dekh liya? Maine bola tha na?' (Didn't I tell you)," Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth was amazed that he got the chance to close out tough high-pressure matches - the ones against Pakistan and Australia in the semifinals. "I don't know how I get connected with testing situations... maybe I am the chosen one," he laughed.

Sreesanth comes across as an aggressive bloke but away from the field life is song and dance. He has written two of the 10 songs in Desh, an album of patriotic songs cut by his brother-in-law Madhu Balakrishnan, South Indian playback singer.

Former Pakistan cricket greats on Tuesday bemoaned their national side's inability to overcome India after losing to their arch-rivals in the ICC World Twenty20 final in South Africa.

But they said that the thriller was good for the game generally, and that at least Pakistan had recovered from their disastrous show at the 50-over World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year.

India lifted the inaugural cup with a narrow five-run win at Johannesburg on Monday -- maintaining the tradition of beating Pakistan in every World Cup match they have played since 1992.

"It's a repeat and it will hurt the fans and players alike for some time, but apart from that jinx both teams played superbly and cricket was the winner," former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram told AFP.

India, who also beat Pakistan in a bowl-out after both teams tied their group match at Durban, defended a target of 158 through some accurate bowling from man-of-the-match Irfan Pathan (3-16) and Rudra Pratap Singh (3-26).

Wasim, who had tipped Pakistan to beat India, said the final was memorable.

"It was a close game and the better team won, no regrets. It was only a game and people have to take it as a game and must appreciate the quality of cricket," said Wasim, who took a world record 502 one-day wickets.

"I would blame Pakistani batsmen Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi for their reckless strokes and in the end Misbah-ul Haq should have played a straight bat shot," said Wasim.

Haq gave the Indians a scare with a late charge of 43 off 38 balls but his final over chip shot was caught to bring India's win.

Younis made 24 before playing a rash shot off Joginder Sharma while Afridi holed out off Irfan for a first-ball nought.

Wasim said both teams had redeemed themselves after their bitter exits from the World Cup in March.

"Shoaib Malik has emerged as a great captain and the way he led the team from the front, I see Pakistan winning the World Cup in 2011," he said.

"India have found Mahendra Singh Dhoni as their leader and eventually he will also lead in Test cricket. I see Indian cricket going up from here and it is a boost to Twenty20 because India has the market to lift any form of the game."

Another former Pakistan captain, Javed Miandad, blamed lack of planning for the defeat.

"We have maintained our losing streak to India in World Cup matches and I would blame poor planning for that. Why did Malik not come in at number three instead of Kamran Akmal?" said Miandad.

Intikhab Alam, manager of the World Cup winning team in 1992 and also an ex-captain, said India holds a psychological edge over Pakistan in big games.

"The World Cup jinx continues and India seems to have an edge over us in all World Cup matches. But I am grateful to the Pakistan team for making the final a fitting one," he said.

Former Pakistan cricket greats on Tuesday bemoaned their national side's inability to overcome India after losing to their arch-rivals in the ICC World Twenty20 final in South Africa.

But they said that the thriller was good for the game generally, and that at least Pakistan had recovered from their disastrous show at the 50-over World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year.

India lifted the inaugural cup with a narrow five-run win at Johannesburg on Monday -- maintaining the tradition of beating Pakistan in every World Cup match they have played since 1992.

"It's a repeat and it will hurt the fans and players alike for some time, but apart from that jinx both teams played superbly and cricket was the winner," former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram told AFP.

India, who also beat Pakistan in a bowl-out after both teams tied their group match at Durban, defended a target of 158 through some accurate bowling from man-of-the-match Irfan Pathan (3-16) and Rudra Pratap Singh (3-26).

Wasim, who had tipped Pakistan to beat India, said the final was memorable.

"It was a close game and the better team won, no regrets. It was only a game and people have to take it as a game and must appreciate the quality of cricket," said Wasim, who took a world record 502 one-day wickets.

"I would blame Pakistani batsmen Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi for their reckless strokes and in the end Misbah-ul Haq should have played a straight bat shot," said Wasim.

Haq gave the Indians a scare with a late charge of 43 off 38 balls but his final over chip shot was caught to bring India's win.

Younis made 24 before playing a rash shot off Joginder Sharma while Afridi holed out off Irfan for a first-ball nought.

Wasim said both teams had redeemed themselves after their bitter exits from the World Cup in March.

"Shoaib Malik has emerged as a great captain and the way he led the team from the front, I see Pakistan winning the World Cup in 2011," he said.

"India have found Mahendra Singh Dhoni as their leader and eventually he will also lead in Test cricket. I see Indian cricket going up from here and it is a boost to Twenty20 because India has the market to lift any form of the game."

Another former Pakistan captain, Javed Miandad, blamed lack of planning for the defeat.

"We have maintained our losing streak to India in World Cup matches and I would blame poor planning for that. Why did Malik not come in at number three instead of Kamran Akmal?" said Miandad.

Intikhab Alam, manager of the World Cup winning team in 1992 and also an ex-captain, said India holds a psychological edge over Pakistan in big games.

"The World Cup jinx continues and India seems to have an edge over us in all World Cup matches. But I am grateful to the Pakistan team for making the final a fitting one," he said.

Police battled to contain surging crowds wildly celebrating the return home Wednesday of the Indian team after lifting the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 championship against Pakistan.

Thousands braved monsoon rain to greet the cricketers off a flight from South Africa which landed in the western city of Mumbai on Wednesday morning.

Private security guards were also drafted in to cope with the crush as new captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led his side out of Chhattrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Many children joined the throng, dancing to drum beats as the cricketers boarded an open-top bus which inched its way through a sea of supporters waving Indian flags and pictures of Dhoni.

The vividly-painted bus set off on a 30-kilometre (19-mile) drive to the Wankhede cricket stadium in south Mumbai with players taking turns to hold aloft the trophy.

Fans lit firecrackers, sang songs and waved placards as the exuberant Indian players danced and hugged each other under a heavy shower.

Policemen joined in the dancing as rose and marigold petals were thrown in the air.

India, restricted to 157-5 with the bat, fought back to bowl out Pakistan for 152 in a thrilling final on Monday in Johannesburg.

"These kids have proved themselves, they have the capacity to take us to greater heights," former chief selector Kiran More told reporters.

India media reported that the team had partied through the night in South Africa.

"We just went crazy," star fast bowler Irfan Pathan said. "Unlike other Indian teams this team celebrates in style."

Skipper Dhoni was keen to temper celebrations. "Just live in the present, keep your feet on the ground, enjoy your success but don't get carried away," he told his teammates.

The surprise win by India, who were widely criticised at home earlier this year after being knocked out of the 50-overs World Cup tournament at the first stage, prompted the government and others to rain gifts on the players.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel announced free round-the-world air tickets for players and their families.

The private Sahara India trading group gifted each player a new house.

The Board of Cricket Control in India promised huge rewards for the players and support staff.

Among the bigger prizes was a Porsche car for Yuvraj Singh, who hit six sixes in one over.

Police battled to contain surging crowds wildly celebrating the return home Wednesday of the Indian team after lifting the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 championship against Pakistan.

Thousands braved monsoon rain to greet the cricketers off a flight from South Africa which landed in the western city of Mumbai on Wednesday morning.

Private security guards were also drafted in to cope with the crush as new captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led his side out of Chhattrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Many children joined the throng, dancing to drum beats as the cricketers boarded an open-top bus which inched its way through a sea of supporters waving Indian flags and pictures of Dhoni.

The vividly-painted bus set off on a 30-kilometre (19-mile) drive to the Wankhede cricket stadium in south Mumbai with players taking turns to hold aloft the trophy.

Fans lit firecrackers, sang songs and waved placards as the exuberant Indian players danced and hugged each other under a heavy shower.

Policemen joined in the dancing as rose and marigold petals were thrown in the air.

India, restricted to 157-5 with the bat, fought back to bowl out Pakistan for 152 in a thrilling final on Monday in Johannesburg.

"These kids have proved themselves, they have the capacity to take us to greater heights," former chief selector Kiran More told reporters.

India media reported that the team had partied through the night in South Africa.

"We just went crazy," star fast bowler Irfan Pathan said. "Unlike other Indian teams this team celebrates in style."

Skipper Dhoni was keen to temper celebrations. "Just live in the present, keep your feet on the ground, enjoy your success but don't get carried away," he told his teammates.

The surprise win by India, who were widely criticised at home earlier this year after being knocked out of the 50-overs World Cup tournament at the first stage, prompted the government and others to rain gifts on the players.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel announced free round-the-world air tickets for players and their families.

The private Sahara India trading group gifted each player a new house.

The Board of Cricket Control in India promised huge rewards for the players and support staff.

Among the bigger prizes was a Porsche car for Yuvraj Singh, who hit six sixes in one over.

Indian cricket's golden moment in South Africa will play out across the country once again when the entire ICC World Twenty20 winning team will be paraded through Mumbai on an open bus from Sahar airport to Wankhede stadium for a "rousing public reception".

After the recent turmoil over the Caribbean World Cup, the Essel Group's breakaway league and Rahul Dravid's resignation as skipper, the BCCI is going all out to roll out the red carpet for the "team that delivered when it mattered most."

The result: the kind of reception that was last seen across the cricket world in 2005, when England toppled Australia in the Ashes before parading around London in an open bus, with mounds of confetti and screaming fans.

Reflecting the buoyant mood inside the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, its Chief Administrative Officer, Prof Ratnakar Shetty told The Indian Express that "Indian cricket has now got a new direction. The core is being prepared for the 2011 World Cup, the seeds have been sown."

"We are very happy that they played the way they did, and most importantly, enjoyed every moment. What we are really happy about is that they have sent the message that Indian cricket can continue, move on. There were people who had raised the question: what after the seniors retire? The answer is here," said Prof Shetty.

Tomorrow, once the team reaches Wankhede stadium, there will be a felicitation function, organized in association with the Maharashtra government, in which the Indian board will hand over cheques to the players for the $ 200 million dollars that had been declared as bonus.

"We had celebrated then, they are celebrating now. We deserved it then, they deserve it now. It's an occasion to be proud of being an Indian," said an emotional Kapil Dev in Ahmedabad, comparing this win to the 1983 World Cup victory, when he was captain.

Dev was then 24, MS Dhoni today is 26. "A young captain has josh in him. He is fearless, courageous. And there are no expectations from him," said Kapil.

However, Kapil echoed the fears of a million fans by adding: "We have to see now whether Dhoni can fulfill the expectations of his fans. He will have to achieve his own targets. If he can attain this, I would say he has done a very good job. For public and fans, there is no limit. So we will have to see," said Kapil on the sidelines of a promotional event.

Now, the big question: how will it be to lead a side with three former captains in it, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, against the Australians in seven one-dayers starting next week?

"I don't think that will change his approach much. A senior cricketer may feel awkward at times to take orders from a younger player. But the seniors should support Dhoni for the good of Indian cricket. Besides, the seniors had left the captaincy on their own, so they shouldn't have a problem," said Kapil.

Indian cricket's golden moment in South Africa will play out across the country once again when the entire ICC World Twenty20 winning team will be paraded through Mumbai on an open bus from Sahar airport to Wankhede stadium for a "rousing public reception".

After the recent turmoil over the Caribbean World Cup, the Essel Group's breakaway league and Rahul Dravid's resignation as skipper, the BCCI is going all out to roll out the red carpet for the "team that delivered when it mattered most."

The result: the kind of reception that was last seen across the cricket world in 2005, when England toppled Australia in the Ashes before parading around London in an open bus, with mounds of confetti and screaming fans.

Reflecting the buoyant mood inside the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, its Chief Administrative Officer, Prof Ratnakar Shetty told The Indian Express that "Indian cricket has now got a new direction. The core is being prepared for the 2011 World Cup, the seeds have been sown."

"We are very happy that they played the way they did, and most importantly, enjoyed every moment. What we are really happy about is that they have sent the message that Indian cricket can continue, move on. There were people who had raised the question: what after the seniors retire? The answer is here," said Prof Shetty.

Tomorrow, once the team reaches Wankhede stadium, there will be a felicitation function, organized in association with the Maharashtra government, in which the Indian board will hand over cheques to the players for the $ 200 million dollars that had been declared as bonus.

"We had celebrated then, they are celebrating now. We deserved it then, they deserve it now. It's an occasion to be proud of being an Indian," said an emotional Kapil Dev in Ahmedabad, comparing this win to the 1983 World Cup victory, when he was captain.

Dev was then 24, MS Dhoni today is 26. "A young captain has josh in him. He is fearless, courageous. And there are no expectations from him," said Kapil.

However, Kapil echoed the fears of a million fans by adding: "We have to see now whether Dhoni can fulfill the expectations of his fans. He will have to achieve his own targets. If he can attain this, I would say he has done a very good job. For public and fans, there is no limit. So we will have to see," said Kapil on the sidelines of a promotional event.

Now, the big question: how will it be to lead a side with three former captains in it, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, against the Australians in seven one-dayers starting next week?

"I don't think that will change his approach much. A senior cricketer may feel awkward at times to take orders from a younger player. But the seniors should support Dhoni for the good of Indian cricket. Besides, the seniors had left the captaincy on their own, so they shouldn't have a problem," said Kapil.