Mahi (from top) in CSK colour code — check out his yellow wristwatch dial and cool cap, too — takes the driver’s seat minutes after landing at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, on Wednesday afternoon. His boys Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo of the West Indies walk out of the airport to be greeted by cheering fans. But, all eyes are not only on CSK’s South African teammate Faf du Plessis outside the airport, a good many are wondering about who the hottie in the LBD is. While Dhoni, wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva in tow, went straight to their Harmu home, the other CSK players went to Radisson Blu. CSK lost to Mumbai Indians in IPL-8 on Tuesday at Wankhede, but fans hope the team earns ceetees galore on Friday at JSCA stadium in Dhurwa, in the second playoff. The team that wins the Pune  match on Wednesday — till the filing of the report, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore 
were locked in combat — will arrive on Thursday to play against CSK the day after. For CSK, Friday’s is the most crucial match this IPL season. If CSK wins, it will earn a ticket to the final on May 24 in Calcutta. And, Dhoni is definitely counting on crowd support to nail a big win. “I know my home crowd loves to see me play and perform. I also love playing before my parents and family,” Dhoni had said in Mumbai when asked about Ranchi.

Text by ASRP Mukesh, pictures by Prashant Mitra