Chennai: World Cup winning Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today joined the growing calls to award batting ace Sachin Tendulkar the Bharat Ratna, saying no cricketer deserves it more than him.

"Yes, 200 per cent, because he is an ideal candidate, he has served the country for 21 years with a few more to come.

As a cricketer, you know, if he doesn't get it, then I don't think there's anyone who'll get the Bharat Ratna ever," Dhoni said.

"I think he's done really great things for the country, taking cricket to the next level. He's known even in places where they don't know about the game, so I think it's a very big achievement taking the country forward. He's done remarkably," the Chennai Super Kings skipper said at a press meet to kickstart the IPL's fourth season, starting on Friday.

The Dhoni-led CSK, which won the double of the IPL and Champions League title last season, open their season with a home game against a Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders.