Sachin deserving candidate for Bharat Ratna: Dhoni

World Cup winning Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday joined the growing calls to award batting ace Sachin Tendulkar the Bharat Ratna, saying no cricketer deserves it more than him.

"I think he's done really great things for the country, taking cricket to the next level. He's known even in places where they don't know about the game, so I think it's a very big achievement taking the country forward. He's done remarkably," the Chennai Super Kings skipper said at a press meet to kickstart the IPL's fourth season, starting on Friday.

The Dhoni-led CSK, which won the double of the IPL and Champions League title last season, open their season with a home game against a Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders.

"Yes, 200 per cent, because he is an ideal candidate, he has served the country for 21 years with a few more to come. As a cricketer, you know, if he doesn't get it, then I don't think there's anyone who'll get the Bharat Ratna ever," Dhoni said.

GAUTI Can Lead Delhi for IPL 3 Title

Justine Eric Simons seems to have become an expert at short- term coaching jobs. Having served as India's bowling coach in the series against Bangladesh and South Africa, Simons has taken over as the new assistant coach of the Delhi Daredevils for the third Indian Premier League ( IPL) beginning Friday.

Going into IPL- III, two-time semi-finalists Daredevils have a new captain in Gautam Gambhir, and Simons believes the opening batsman can spur his team on to the title.

"Gautam is going to be a very exciting captain. He is a very humble man but a very clear thinker as well. Captaincy is all about taking information from others and making the right decisions and he will be able to do that," Simons told Mail Today.

"I believe a team needs to peak at the right time to go all the way. We have to make sure our top players are not jaded and, hopefully, this time we can manage that."

The Daredevils go into the season with relatively few injury concerns, despite a questionmark against New Zealand captain and left- arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who will join the squad only in April.