Ranchi/Jamshedpur, Oct. 31: Diwali celebrations started a day early for Randhir Singh and Chanchal Bhattacharya as Mahendra Singh Dhoni toyed with Sri Lanka?s bowlers in Jaipur.

Having coached the Team India wicket-keeper, who is fast drawing comparisons with Australian Adam Gilchrist, said they had reasons to cheer. ?I am celebrating Diwali today as such moments don?t come everyday. Dhoni?s record-breaking and match-winning innings in Jaipur has made me extremely happy,? said Singh, who was instrumental in drafting Dhoni to the Bihar Ranji squad in 1999.

Ranchi-based Bhattacharya, who has watched the cricketer?s progress from close quarters as his coach, said his ward has once again proved that he was a match-winner. ?It is Diwali for me today. I was expecting this cracker of an innings from Dhoni once he took guard at number 3,? Bhattacharya said. ?If he wants to go after a bowler, he will do so. His determination is profound.?

Singh, a former cricketer who donned the country?s colours as a medium-pacer, said he knew Dhoni would someday win matches on his own. ?It was a fantastic effort from Dhoni,? said Singh, now coach of the Jharkhand Ranji squad.

He remembers Dhoni as a cool and calm cricketer who stays cool even in difficult situations. ?I have never seen him lose his cool even during crunch situations. He plays without any tension. He is a natural cricketer,? he said.

The Jaipur innings, feels experts, has silenced all those who doubted his technique and temperament. ?Now I am sure no can stop him from getting into Team India for the coming Test series as well,? said a jubilant Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) president Amitabh Choudhary, who was also the manager when Dhoni played in the tri-series in Zimbabwe just a few weeks ago.

Former India under-25 and Duleep Trophy batsman-wicket keeper Pradeep Khanna stands by his assertion that the day Dhoni gets going, he will make people forget Sachin Tendulkar. ?Now he should get into team for Test series against Sri Lanka,? Khanna said.