'Cool Mahi' steals young hearts

World Cup 2011 might be over but city's youngsters just can't stop revelling in the joy it has brought in. This time, they have someone in the team to look up to and be inspired -- Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Many of them are also unhappy that their idol Sachin did not score a century in the finals.For Prachi Kapasi who's just completed herclass 6 exams (Bethany High School), Dhoni is now more important than anyoneelse in the Indian team. Even more than the `Man of the Series' and her firstfavourite -- Yuvraj Singh. Ask her why and she is quick to say: "He is awesomeand worked cool under pressure."Seventeen-year-old Mithun Kalappafrom Ebenezer International School who earlier thought that Dhoni was `just toolucky to be in team and captain at such young age', now feels that he is thebest to lead Team India.An excited Kamna Jalan who is now doing herfirst year degree at Christ University elaborates on how she went "ga ga" overDhoni after Saturday's triumph. It also got her into a fight with her brotherRhythm (10) who is an avid Sachin fan. "I won because Dhoni is team captain,"she snapped at him. Twelve-year-old Padeah Sperber found the matchboring in the beginning but enjoyed it later. "This is the best match that Dhoniplayed," she said.Sachin Tendulkar, although missing out on his100th century, did remain among their `all-time favourite'. They are alsotouched by how Yuvraj Singh said that he (Sachin) was the special someone thathe had been playing for.A surprise favourite among the youth wasVirat Kohli. "Even though he was the youngest player out there, he played reallywell," said Prakash Menon, 19. However, 6-year-old Shloka Deviah from Head Startplayschool in Koramangala had a more practical reason to admire him __ "I likehis face," she said.IT'S CRICKET FOR SUMMERTheenthusiasm of these youngsters does not end with just celebrations. Many of themare also keen to get into cricket early, even thefour-year-olds!Irfan Sait, a level-3 coach from English CricketBoard (ECB), England, who runs a coaching centre at RBANMS grounds, says he gotand email from a parent who was keen to get his son into the camp. "The kid isjust two-and-a-half years old. We had to convince him hard that it will not bepossible," he told TOI.Their regular summer camp that begins onMonday (up to May 20) has received over 800 applications this year and isrestricted to only kids who are 6 years and above. "Normally we get 500-600applications. But response this year is phenomenal, perhaps due to the World Cupseason. We had to increase the number of sessions to five instead of three," heexplained.But nothing has changed the enrolment of girls at thiscamp. "Only two girls came to the camp this time. Perhaps, they need moreinspiration from the Indian women's cricket team and hope ahead for betterfuture with women's cricket in India," Sait observed.(with inputsfrom Rhea Subramanya)