Gurgaon: Just a week ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday became a father after wife Sakshi gave birth to a girl, at a private hospital here.

This is Dhoni's first child. The baby weighs 3.7 kg, according to the doctors.

Dhoni is currently in Adelaide with the World Cup squad. Leading India's World Cup title defence, Dhoni was unable to be by his wife's side on Friday.

Sakshi generally travels with her husband during India's tours, but this time she gave it a miss.

Dhoni had got married on July 4, 2010. At the time of their marriage, Sakshi was studying hotel management and was working as a trainee with a hotel in the city.

Having already retired from Tests, Dhoni will be looking ahead to successfully defending the World Cup that he won in 2011, even though it looks to be a tough ask now. Specially after India's dismal show in the Test series and the tri-series, that also involved England.

With the birth of his daughter, the India captain will definitely be in high spirits. And if India do manage to retain the Cup, the little one is sure to become not only the apple of her father's eye, but the nation's as well.