Kohli & Co praised for perfect finish

India's cricketers are being hailed a once-in-a-generation side as the World Cup looms, capping off a "perfect finish" to their historic Australia tour with a maiden one-day international bilateral series victory.

The Men in Blue will return home to India triumphant without having lost a Test or limited-overs series -- a first on Australian soil.

The Test victory was India's first in 71 years of trying in Australia, a crowning achievement burnished by another historic first as the visitors clinched the ODI series 2-1 in Melbourne on Friday.

India earlier drew a three-match Twenty20 showdown 1-1 after one match was washed out, ending the tour without losing a series in any format.

"Perfect Finish To Dream Tour", declared the Mail Today daily on page one Saturday.

"One-Day wonder Down Under", ran a front page headline in the weekend edition of the Indian Express newspaper. Other Indian dailies called it a "perfect ending" and "series of firsts".

Captain Virat Kohli, riding on a high, is already looking ahead to the World Cup in May, confident his men have hit their stride as the coveted ODI cup looms.

"We are feeling confident and balanced as a side with the World Cup in mind," the skipper said.

"In all the three series we bounced back in different stages, and I think that builds team character ahead, especially when the World Cup is so near. If everyone contributes at different stages, it is then you win a big tournament."

The India side is being tipped as one of the best in years.

Special praise was reserved for veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who defied critics to smash an unbeaten 87 and register his third straight ODI half-century.

Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar praised Dhoni on Twitter, saying he "once again played the role of the anchor beautifully!"