Ranchi: In a way, Indian cricket captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni only flattered to deceive - in the process, leaving students and teachers at a college here hugely disappointed.

In March, Dhoni had visited the St. Xavier's College here and expressed a desire to enrol in an undergraduate course. The management immediately responded, saying he would be accommodated in the quota reserved for sportspersons.

The students, of course, were delighted, but this gave way to disillusionment as the June 10 deadline for applying passed without any sign of the swashbuckling cricketer.

Even so, there is a window open.

"Dhoni will be admitted if he submits the necessary papers before the (new academic) session commences (July-end)," college principal Father Nicholas Tete told IANS.

But given Dhoni's international and domestic commitments, this is hardly likely to happen - which explains the long faces among the college's teachers and students.

"We were very excited when Dhoni expressed his desire to join the college. Now he is probably not seeking admission and that is bad news for us," said Rajesh Kumar Sen, a student at St Xavier's.

Echoing this view, Brajesh Kumar, also a student, said: "Dhoni is a brand in India. If Dhoni had joined our college we would have felt elevated. We were excited at the thought of becoming Dhoni's batchmates. Now we are disappointed."

For the record, Dhoni is still enrolled as a first year student at Ranchi's Gossener College, where he was admitted in 1999. He, however, could not appear for the term-end exam as he was called up to play for the then undivided Bihar in the domestic Ranji Trophy tournament.

The rest, they say, is history and given Dhoni's current career graph, it is highly unlikely he will ever acquire a college degree - not that it would do him any good. IANS