Mahendra Singh Dhoni supervises construction of his new house at Harmu on Wednesday. Pix: Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Oct. 22: Team India’s stand-in Test captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s visit to the state capital after the thumping victory over Aussies in Mohali was short but sweet.

He visited his under-construction “dream home” in Harmu Housing Colony, met the principal of a reputed English-medium school and spent quality time with his relatives and close friends at his Doranda home. He also went to meet a friend in Argora.

Dhoni, who arrived in his hometown yesterday, remained in the city for less than 24 hours. He left the city today by the afternoon Air India flight to Delhi.

“Dhoni was here to spend some moments with his close companions and parents. He was in a relaxed mood and shared with us moments of joy after defeating Australia in the second Test yesterday. He also went to see the progress of his under-construction home,” said a relative of Dhoni.

The swashbuckling batsman spent around 30 minutes at his residence under construction on a 5,000sqft plot at Harmu Housing Colony. Former chief minister Arjun Munda gifted the plot — Baba Ramdev did the honours at a function — to Dhoni in 2006 for his excellent performance in the Pakistan tour that year.

Mahi plans to convert the rooftop of his three-storeyed home into an astroturf-ed surface to practice cricket. The palatial house will also have seven to eight bedrooms, a 150ft long, 40ft wide and 10ft deep swimming pool and a garden. Two of the rooms in the basement might be converted into a gymnasium.

His dream home has been designed by Calcutta’s Akriti Architechtural Consultants.

Mahi’s Harmu colony home is beside the local State Bank of India on the Birsa Munda Rajpath. The BJP state headquarters is a stone’s throw away. It is in the same locality where Olympian Silvanus Dungdung resides.

The fans of Dhoni hit the city streets to have a glimpse of their very own Mahi on his brief visit to his hometwon after defeating Ponting & Co. in Mohali. Dhoni played two crucial knocks in the Test. He was spot-on in field placings. His captaincy skills won accolades from several former and present cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar.