India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images], 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 top tax payer in Jharkhand

Dhoni looked neat and trim with his locks, which once drew attention of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images], 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.