Post 2007 WC reactions helped Dhoni become a better cricketer

"When we landed in Delhi, there was a lot of media. At times, people feel that we are not emotional enough about it, but I always felt, as sports persons, you have to be strong enough to go through everything and it has to be within yourself," Dhoni was quoted as saying at an event by espncricinfo.com.

"At that point of time, when we landed, we had to get out in a police van. I was sitting next to Viru [Virender Sehwag] paaji. It was evening or night time," he said.

"We were travelling at a decent speed - 60 or 70 kms - and that's quite a bit for India, that too on the narrow roads. And, you know, media cars around us with their cameras and the big lights on top, it felt as if we had committed a big crime, maybe like a murderer or terrorist or something. We were actually chased by them," the skipper, who led India to 2011 World Cup victory, said.

He said: "After a while, we entered a police station. We went there, we sat for a while and then we left in our cars after 15-20 minutes. That actually had a big impact on me and I channelised the aggression to become a better cricketer and a better human being."

India, under the leadership of former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, suffered a first round exit in the 2007 World Cup which was won by Australia.

India were defeated by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the group stage matches.

Dravid's men only managed to beat Bermuda.

Days after the loss, MS Dhoni took charge of the team and helped India win the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in the same year.