09 April,2009 08:09 AM IST | | Debasish Datta
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men returned home in the wee hours today after taming New Zealand in their own backyard and are planning to spend the next four to five days with their families at home.
Said Dhoni, "I'll be in Ranchi. I want to take some rest as I have been out of home for quite some time now."
The captain, who led from the front in Kiwiland, said the couple of days off would give him the much-needed time to supervise the ongoing construction of his new house which will be ready in six months' time.
As far as Sachin Tendulkar is concerned, it's time to spend quality time with his family. Despite the long time away from home, the Master Blaster appeared jubilant as he was "finally leaving New Zealand as a victorious member of a successful team."
Many team members are already looking ahead to the fun-filled bonanza called the Indian Premier League. Said Harbhajan Singh, "After performing well for the national team everybody will be geared up for the IPL for their respective franchisees."
Gautam Gambhir felt his match-winning innings at Napier and the century at Wellington will be permanently etched in his cricketing career.
"Now it's time for IPL, but I'm sure the two centuries will definitely help me bat with more confidence," Gambhir said.u00a0 Virender Sehwag, who was accompanied by wife Aarti on the NZ tour, said, "It will be a new experience for all of us since this time the IPL is in South Africa. We all have to adjust there." All the top Indian players would like to leave India for South Africa only on April 15. It might just happen that all the top guns from the various franchisees might assemble in Mumbai and fly out together to Johannesburg.
