15-day Valley stint for MS Dhoni.
Cricketing legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni starts patrol duties Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday to discharge his responsibilities as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel In the territorial army.
Dhoni is sitting out India's tour of the West Indies that begins this week and there has been speculation he might retire after he failed to live up to his best finisher tag in the Cricket World Cup where India lost in the semis.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is part of the Territorial Army, that draws on civilians who can do short stints to assist the military. He will do a 15-day stint with the Victor Force engaged in counter-insurgency operations against militants in the valley. He will be primarily doing guard and patrolling duty and won't take part in any active operation, which was earlier confirmed by Army Chief Bipin Rawat,
He also ruled out giving any special security to captain cool MS Dhoni. Dhoni's love for the army is legendary and his excitement is palpabale in the pictures of him flying to the Valley to serve his country. With army fatigues trousers, it almost looked like he is itching to get into the mix of things. He will be joining the 106 TA Battalion (Para) on July 31 and will continue until August 15.
1. What will MS Dhoni do in J&K?
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"He will be taking on the duties of patrolling, guard and post duty and would be staying with troops," the army said in a statement, adding that its headquarters had approved a schedule which incorporated Dhoni's requests.
Dhoni has trained as a paratrooper and jumped from aircraft, an army official said, adding, "This stint in Kashmir is part of his training."
2. Dhoni and his army attachment
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In March, at Dhoni's behest, Indian cricketers wore army camouflage-style caps during a match to show solidarity with Pulwama martyrs.
During India’s opening match with South Africa at the World Cup, Dhoni stirred controversy with gloves that sported the Territorial Army's dagger insignia.
The International Cricket Council asked for the removal of the insignia, setting off outrage.
Dhoni, who turned 38 this month, captained the side to the World Twenty20 title in 2007 and their second 50-over World Cup title in 2011 at home. Widely considered the best 'finisher' in contemporary cricket, he is a veteran of 350 one-dayers.
3. Cottrell salutes Dhoni
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West Indies fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell has lauded Mahendra Singh Dhoni for being a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army by calling the former World Cup-winning captain a true patriot.
Cottrell, who became popular during the ICC ODI World Cup in the United Kingdom for his trademark salute celebrations, tweeted a series of messages and also shared a video on Dhoni to praise the veteran stumper.
The video was from 2018, when the Indian wicket-keeper batsman was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the country's highest civilian award, by President Ramnath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
"This man is an inspiration on the cricket field. But he is also a patriot and a man that gives to his country beyond duty. I have been at home in Jamaica with my boys these past weeks and had time to reflect," Cottrell wrote his first tweet.
"I shared this video with friends and family because they know how I feel about honour but the moment between wife and husband truly shows an inspirational kind of love for country and partner. Please enjoy as I did." Dhoni is an honourary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. He is also a qualified paratrooper after having completed five parachute training jumps.
Dhoni, who opted out of the upcoming tour of the West Indies, will carry out patrolling and guard duties with troops during his 15-day stint with a Territorial Army battalion in the Kashmir Valley.
4. Army chief on MS Dhoni
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Army Chief Bipin Rawat said, “When a citizen of India wants to don the military uniform then he has to also be prepared to fulfil the task for which the uniform has been assigned to him. MS Dhoni has carried out his basic training and we know that he will be able to accomplish the task.”
“In fact, he will be protecting a lot of other people because he will now be performing with the 106 Territorial Army battalion (Para). It is a very good battalion and they have been performing a line of communication duties, static protection and he will be a part of it,” he said.
“I don’t think we will need to protect him, he will protect the citizens and garrison entrusted to his task,” the Army Chief said. He added that Dhoni will be taking on responsibilities of patrolling, guard and post duty and live like any other soldiers.
'He will be protecting a lot of other people from now on': Chief General Bipin Rawat on MS Dhoni
