Just a week ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday became a father after his wife Sakshi gave birth to a baby girl at a private hospital in Gurgaon, India.

The baby was due in March but was born almost a month earlier.

The 33-year-old cricketer became a first time father after his daughter was born at Fortis Hospital in Gurgaon in the evening.

In a Facebook verified page, Dhoni on Friday expressed his happiness, "Yes, I have been blessed with a baby daughter. Both mom and child are fine. And, I am on national duty. World Cup is important for me and I rather be here."

The baby weighs 3.7 kg, according to the doctors.

Dhoni is currently busy getting ready for India's title defence at the World Cup in Australia.

Dhoni had tied the nuptial knot with his childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat on July 4 2010.