Mahi-fever grips Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, Apr 11 (UNI) The mercury is rising in the Steel City and so is the Mahi-fever, which is touching anew high with each passing day in this cosmopolitan town.

This part of the country is now better known as Mahi-land after the new-style icon of the Indian cricket Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who received more than 100 invitations for felicitation on arrival.

He went to the state association felicitation and was thronged by youngsters, most of them girls, trying to catch a glimpse of their state boy. Flaunting his newly cut locks Dhoni smiled at one and all and obliged autograph hunters.

Asked if he felt the pressure from the home crowd, Dhoni said, ''There is pressure when one plays at home and I am no exception. I will be trying to give my best and not disappoint the people.'' Dhoni, who scored 24 against Pakistan here, said he would ''love to better that.'' Virender Sehwag has already announced that the wicketkeeper might be given a chance tobat up the order.

''We want to see him bat up the order. In the last few games he did not get a chance to bat,'' Sehwag said.

''The crowd wants to see him and we may sent him up the order,'' he added.

Meanwhile, people lay siege of the team hotel trying to catch a glimpse of the local boy. Posters crying ''Dhoni Dhoni'' and ''Our hero, our pride Dhoni'' were held up by young and old as the team bus skirted through the city roads to the stadium.

Though the match is a dead rubber, the expectations and enthusiasm of the people are monumental.

UNI BA PM RK1525