Dhoni delighted with India after victory over Australia

The tourists successfully blended youthful talent and seasoned old hands to beat the hosts by nine runs after setting a target of 259. Sachin Tendulkar produced a typically polished innings of 91 and fine bowling displays from 21-year-old Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan guided India home.

Kumar ensured Adam Gilchrist's international career ended as a damp squib by dismissing him with the third ball of the innings, and Pathan took two wickets in the final over to halt Australia's James Hopes-led fightback.

"This was a very important win because I believe it is a building stage for this team," said Dhoni. "We left a few senior players out and have played one of the best teams in the world with a young team.

"The way we improved our batting throughout the series was very important, as was they way Sachin played in the two final games.

"It is one of the best tours I have been on - it doesn't get much better than this. Beating Australia in the two finals and playing well in every department is a great feeling."

Opposing captain Ricky Ponting admitted his side had been outplayed and insisted there were no excuses.

The 33-year-old's batting woes continued after he added just one run before mis-timing a pull to mid-on and he will rue not contributing more during a series in which he made just one century.

"All credit must go to the India team for the way they have played tonight and over the last week. They thoroughly deserve to go home with the trophy after the two finals. There are no excuses from us. We have lost three games in a row and I think our level of cricket in the last week has dropped off. We didn't play as well as in the lead-up games but we will look at that and see if we can build up more momentum next time."

Asked whether his team had been distracted by the off-field rows between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh, among others, Ponting replied: "I wouldn't have thought so. It has actually quietened down in the last week and that's when we have played our worst cricket so we are not going to make excuses."

Gilchrist was philosophical about the fact his final innings in the Baggy Green had ended in such disappointing fashion.

"It is not a fairytale ending tonight but it has been a fairytale career which I will hold close to my heart for the rest of my life," he said. "Well done to India who outplayed us tonight."