India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, sporting a new look with close cropped hair, returned home on Wednesday after the recently concluded hectic seven-match cricket series against Australia.
Dhoni was whisked away by securitymen from one of the gates at the Birsa Munda airport as a folk troupe which was to greet him was stopped at another.
Dhoni looked neat and trim with his locks, which once drew attention of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, shorn off.
"The enthusiasm would have been different had Dhoni returned immediately after the Twenty20 championship," said a fan and blamed the 2-4 loss to Australia in the one-day series for the low presence of fans.
A few determined enthusiasts, however, shouted 'Dhoni Zindabad' and 'Welcome Dhoni' as their poster boy drove away to his brother-in-law's home.
The cricketer did not speak to the media which was present in strength.