Raghuraj Veer, 17, was one of the 200-odd Mahendra Singh Dhoni fans who had assembled outside his house 'Shaurya' in Ranchi on Tuesday morning to celebrate and greet the star on his 34th birthday.
The crowd swelled as the day progressed, causing a jam outside the Team India ODI captain's palatial residence on Harmu Road in Jharkhand's capital, which compelled the local police to depute over two dozen armed guards to manage both the crowd and traffic.
With a bouquet in his hands, Raghuraj stood firm outside Dhoni's house, braving the intermittent showers to catch a glimpse of his hero and gift him flowers, provided he was allowed to meet the World Cup winner.When Raghuraj was asked where he was from, he answered, "I have come all the way from Begusarai in Bihar, travelling two days. I have changed several buses and trains to meet my hero and wish him a happy birthday. I am sure he would not disappoint me."
(HT Photo)
Dhoni is celebrating his birthday in his house with family and friends for the first time after 2010, the year he got married. He was rested from the Zimbabwe tour along with other senior players of his team.
(HT Photo)
Dhoni is celebrating his birthday in his house with family and friends for the first time after 2010, the year he got married. He was rested from the Zimbabwe tour along with other senior players of his team.
Various events are being held across Ranchi to celebrate the local hero's birthday. From cutting cakes, to releasing balloons in the air, individuals and institutions expressed their love and affection for 'Captain Cool'.
The guards outside Shaurya said bouquets had started arriving from as early as 6am on Tuesday. While some of them, which were delivered by VVIP vehicles, were taken inside, others dotted the entrance of the building.
On his birthday eve, Dhoni was captured by a local photographer supervising the repair of his Yamaha RD 350 motorcycle at his residence.
Dhoni has a penchant for cars and bikes. At present, he has 13 motorbikes that includes various Harley Davidson models and at least 10 cars, including a Hummer. His first motorbike was a Rajdoot which he had bought for Rs 4500 when started working with the Railways.July is a special month for Dhoni. Barely three days back, he celebrated his fifth marriage anniversary with his wife Sakshi.
(HT Photo)