Dhoni's among the great modern captains

Ian Chappell: Dhoni took his side to the top without great bowlers, which made his achievement more remarkable

Dot balls, singles, twos and boundaries

Numbers Game: We analyse teams, batsmen and bowlers on these parameters in the 2011 World Cup. By S Rajesh

In Tendulkar country

Wright Thompson, an American writer new to cricket, experiences the first few weeks of the World Cup, navigating the madness of a billion fans and chasing the soul of the game

'Dhoni made the difference'

Time Out: Harsha Bhogle, Sanjay Manjrekar and Ian Chappell discuss India's World Cup triumph and its implications for Indian cricket

East is where it's at

Rob Steen: Cricket's power centre seems to have shifted Asia-wards - and not just economically

The best World Cup of all time

But the ICC's decision to chop out the Associates - especially Ireland, who were integral to the excitement - is both baffling and tragic. By Andrew Miller

'This team was desperate to achieve greatness'

Gary Kirsten speaks to Nagraj Gollapudi about his stint with India, culminating in the World Cup win

Mahela's miss, and a spooky stat

Ask Steven: Also: stranded on 99, the most hundreds in a World Cup, the most Man-of-the-Match awards, and more

Doubt did Sri Lanka in

They always believed they could get to the final, but that's where it seemed to end. By Shanaka Amarasinghe

Mature India refuse to be beaten

Over the course of six weeks, and with their victory in the final, India busted a few old theories while proving several of their own theories right. By Sharda Ugra

Perfect timing by MS Dhoni

The India captain certainly can't be blamed for not having a sense of occasion or timing, and he stepped up on the biggest stage of all. By Sidharth Monga

The problem with South Africa

There have been specific reasons why each of their World Cup campaigns was unsuccessful, says Kepler Wessels. Now all they can do is focus on moving on

Finally, the moment of truth

Everyone involved in the World Cup final cannot escape the thought that everything that they have done till now has telescoped into these hours. By Sharda Ugra

India or Sri Lanka: whom to support?

Which team does a second-generation British Asian fan cheer for? It's not all that straightforward. By Sahil Dutta

All hail the king

On World Cup final day, Sriram Dayanand remembers Viv Richards, the man who stamped his name on the first two

India start as favourites

Harsha Bhogle: Sri Lanka have more innovative bowlers but India bat deeper and steadier, and have beaten their toughest oppositions in their previous two games

Tough World Cup for the No. 7 batsman

Numbers Game: Slow pitches have meant run-scoring has been quite difficult for the lower-middle-order batsmen

Bit-part players click for India

Sharda Ugra: What were once the weak links of the Indian team have turned out to be its toughest cookies. And with no crumbling

It slipped through their fingers

Osman Samiuddin: Pakistan paid the price for handing Sachin Tendulkar four reprieves in Mohali

An encounter to stop a subcontinent

Peter Roebuck: It may be just a cricket match, but try telling that to the millions who'll watch India v Pakistan in the World Cup

Only a match in Mohali

Sambit Bal: Twenty-two cricketers will subject their skills and temperament to the toughest of tests; equally, fans in both countries will be on trial

Afridi's target, and Tharanga's record

Ask Steven: Playing for India and Pakistan, Tendulkar's World Cup runs and one-day losses, and eight-ball nostalgia

The horror, the horror

Rob Houwing: The World Cup knockout-phase monkey stays infernally glued to South Africa's backs for another four years

Ponting's time is up

Ian Chappell: If he quits the captaincy now, he'll be remembered as a beaten and bloodied warrior who refused to bow down. Also, it's the right time for Clarke to fill his shoes

The World Cup rain-rule farce

Rewind: New rain rules for the 1992 World Cup were supposed to be fairer, but they led to one of the most farcical finishes in the game's history. By Martin Williamson

No curtain calls for the ODI yet

Harsha Bhogle: The Powerplays have kept teams on their toes, the DRS has reduced mistakes, and the World Cup has been a success so far

Must-Dos

Where Jurassic Park comes to life

If you'll be in Mohali for the India-Pak semi, take in the sights as Yuvraj Singh would do

'When I start thinking too much, I'm in trouble'

One-time wild man Jesse Ryder tells Nagraj Gollapudi his game is all about patience now

Redefining the role of spin

Numbers Game: Plenty of teams have used spinners to open the bowling in this World Cup. By S Rajesh

Tendulkar and the wisdom of walking

Rob Steen: What sped through his mind before he was given not out against West Indies? Was it pragmatism or nobility?

India v Pakistan: a fantasy

The Long Room: Will the two sides meet in this World Cup? One can but live in hope. By Imran Yusuf

'You've got to have skills but you also need attitude'

Allan Donald, New Zealand's bowling coach, wants his charges thinking right when they play his old team

England's thrilling habit

The List: Teams that played the most consecutive ODIs with close finishes. By Travis Basevi and George Binoy

It's a bowler's game

Sambit Bal: The World Cup has been as good as it has been because batsmen haven't dictated terms

Clarke's tattoo, and Ponting's record

Ask Steven: Most sixes in a World Cup innings, unbeaten zeroes, and starting and finishing with ten-fors

'We want to prove a point every time we play'

How We Won the World Cup: Nathan Bracken relives Australia's dominant 2007 campaign | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Journeymen no more

Ireland's World Cup squad has plenty of backing, except from those who really matter. By Gerrard Siggins

How the World Cup got its groove back

Sambit Bal: It may be more by accident than by design, but this edition of cricket's showpiece event is already a success

'When I'm playing well, I can dominate any bowling'

A chip off the Lara block, Darren Bravo was seemingly born to play cricket. Interview by Dileep Premachandran

Waqar Younis

'People get tired of me, but I have to keep going'

A year into his job as Pakistan coach, Waqar Younis is still standing. Osman Samiuddin spoke to him

Now it gets interesting

Harsha Bhogle: Halfway through the World Cup the teams are in the same position as when they started out

He who loved the game

Bob Woolmer died in desperately sad circumstances, but will be remembered for his integrity. By Ivo Tennant

Two men, a camera, a spark

A couple of Dutch film-makers came recently to India with their country's team, hoping to whip up interest in the sport back home. By Nagraj Gollapudi

Don't knock the World Cup

Peter Roebuck: The crowds, organisation and the close matches have made this a tournament worth watching