There is no permanent name and fame than the endeavour to give happiness to a billion hearts. A good name is worth all the riches in life. A good leader inspires people to believe in himself but a great leader inspires people to believe in themselves. As we head into the final of this World Cup, Dhoni is standing on the verge of greatness. He has already led India to victory in the T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa.

The Indian team has already achieved the number one status in Test cricket under Dhoni and now if Dhoni can lead India to a win on Saturday, he is set to become the greatest captain that India has ever produced. Far greater than anybody else. Even Kapil Dev. Because Dhoni has done it in all three formats of the game. Captains generally tend to lead their teams well if they are in good form themselves.

I can think of the great Clive Lloyd when he captained the West Indies to victory in the World Cup. He was in great form. So too was Kapil Dev in 1983, so too Allan Border, Arjuna Ranatunga, Imran Khan and Ricky Ponting. But Dhoni has done this in spite of the fact that his own form has not been that good. He has done a great job with his boldness, gambling instincts and by having a mind of his own.

For his captaincy alone, Dhoni has been a sheer joy to watch at this World Cup. You cannot have everything in life-where will you keep it. Sachin Tendulkar was not the greatest captain and if there is another thing missing from his stats, it’s a World Cup title victory.

If India can win the final, that will be one more feather in Sachin’s already studded cap. The Indian team has peaked at the right time. The team’s only weakness was its bowling but by defending a modest score against Pakistan at Mohali, the team’s bowling too has redeemed itself. In the first few matches they could not even defend high scores against the likes of England and South Africa.

But against Pakistan, the bowlers did a very good job for India. Dhoni is a master of all trades; jack of none. For most, captaincy is a bed of thorns.

But for Dhoni it has been roses, roses all the way. Everyone can captain the ship when the sea is calm. But Dhoni has done it when the sea has been rough. Pressure is what you allow it to be. Dhoni has always been a foot-on-the-throat captain and always goes for the jugular.

The final will decide who will be first amongst equals. Home is where the heart is and the heart is with India. My money is on India because Sri Lanka are not playing at home. The wind and the waves belong to the ablest navigator. And Dhoni has been that navigator at this World Cup.