Newly-married Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is celebrating his 29th birthday on Wednesday, arrived in Ranchi with his wife Sakshi to a rousing reception from enthusiastic fans.
Dhoni and Sakshi greeted scores of fans from the balcony of their house here.
Dhoni married Sakshi in a low key ceremony in Dehradun on July 5 with only four of his teammates among the exclusive guests.
Dhoni's brother-in-law Goutam Gupta, who had on Monday said they would throw a party at Ranchi very soon, and other friends and relatives were present at the airport amid tight security.
Dhoni once again dodged the media when he and his wife boarded a becon-fitted car from the Tarmac and left the airport while cameramen ran from one gate to another.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fans and wellwishers, who gathered near Dhoni's house from morning, cheered and wished him happy birthday when the cricketer and his wife came to the balcony to wave at them.
Fans celebrated Dhoni's birthday in his home town, cutting cake and dancing to the tunes of the latest bollywood songs.
"It is a double treat for us. Dhoni got married four days ago and today being his birthday," said a fan, Atul while stuffing a piece of cake into a scribe's mouth.
Dhoni surprised his followers by getting married within 24 hours of his engagement to Sakshi Singh Rawat.
Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan, who supervised the security at the airport, said tight security has been arranged for the couple. "Security has been deployed in adequate...women police have also been drafted in as part of the security to the couple," Ranjan told newsmen at the airport.
"I don't know which category he is in now," the police officer said when asked whether the cricketer was under Z or Z-plus category. PTI
