Cricket World® Player Of The Week - MS Dhoni

Cricket World® Player Of The Week - MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits out during his impressive innings in Mumbai

©REUTERS / Action Images

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named as the Cricket World® Player Of The Week after leading his side to World Cup glory in Mumbai.

Dhoni hit an unbeaten 91 in 79 balls as India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to take their second World Cup trophy following their success in 1983.

Sri Lanka batted first and made 274 for six with Dhoni having to rotate his bowlers to keep the scoring rate down and he also took the catch to remove opposite number Kumar Sangakkara off the bowling of Yuvraj Singh.

He then came to the crease with India at 114 for three, putting on a partnership worth 109 with Gautam Gambhir, who made 97, and then going on to finish the match in style with a six off Nuwan Kulasekara.

His decision to promote himself up the order, ahead of the in-form Yuvraj, paid off, as he hit eight fours and two sixes in a stunning match-winning innings.

Other contenders for the award included centurion Mahela Jayawardene, Gambhir, Sangakkara, Sachin Tendulkar and Wahab Riaz.

© Cricket World 2011