Army chief Bipin Rawat permits MS Dhoni to train with paramilitary regiment

MS Dhoni might have succeeded or failed with the bat but he is never too far from making headlines. The ace India wicketkeeper-batsman recently made himself unavailable for the upcoming tour to West Indies because of his commitment to paramilitary forces. The Indian Army has granted permission to the 38-year-old to train with his parachute regiment battalion.

Dhoni is now in discussion over his probable retirement from international cricket, especially with the cricket World Cup now getting over. But the legendary cricketer is yet to reveal his future plans, putting the India selectors and team management in a spot of dilemma.

Dhoni of late took centre stage with controversial stature

Dhoni was granted the honorary rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in 2011 after he led India to their second World Cup victory in cricket. He is part of the Territorial Army’s 106 Infantry Battalion, one of the two the army utilises as parachute forces.

Dhoni’s army connection saw him landing in a controversy during the recent World Cup after he took the field against South Africa sporting gloves that had ‘Balidan badge’ of the parachute regiment’s special force. The ICC had objected to the act and the India wicket-keeper decided to do away in the kit in the next match although the fans backed him.

Timesnownews.com cited reports to say that Dhoni’s request to train with the Indian Army has been approved by Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat. The training of the parachute regiment is likely to be held in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir. However, although the Ranchi cricketer can train with the forces, he will not be able to participate in any of the active operations.

Dhoni has in the past underwent army training. He trained with the Special Forces in Agra in 2015. He has underpinned five jumps to become a paratrooper and his latest jump came from the AN-32 transporter aircraft recorded at a height of over 1,200 feet.

Dhoni was overlooked for the T20I series in Australia last year but he had gone on to play in the ODIs in which he has adjudged the man of the series for hitting three consecutive fifties. But this will be perhaps the first time since his debut in 2004 that India will not see him in an entire tour.