New Delhi: Indian wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has not only earned praise on social media but has won over the Army fraternity after sporting the ‘Balidan’ (sacrifice) — the regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Special Forces — on his gloves in the cricket World Cup match against South Africa Wednesday.
Also called the Balidaan (‘sacrifice’) badge, it appears to be officially printed/embroidered on @msdhoni’s @sg_cricket gloves. #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/ld0fNKh3Ho
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 5, 2019
Close-up shots of his green gloves showed the regimental dagger insignia. His gloves won him instant admiration on social media and the pictures were shared widely on various Army WhatsApp groups.
MS Dhoni show love and respect for Indian Army during #INDvsSA match. pic.twitter.com/Vp80oOA3L7
— Mohammed Ajmal (@imMajmal) June 5, 2019
Dhoni’s love for the Army is well-known and he misses no chance in showing off his proud affiliation to the green olives.
MS has a mobile case with Balidan. Also during IPL he was wearing cap with Balidan. His love and respect for Para SF is above all. #Balidan #ParaSF pic.twitter.com/f2C01jnvUB
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) June 5, 2019
He had handed Army caps to his teammates during an ODI match against Australia in Ranchi in March as a tribute to the CRPF personnel who were killed in the Pulwama suicide attack on 14 February.
The honorary Lt Col
Dhoni was given the honorary rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in 2011 as he is a youth icon and the Army wanted to attract youngsters. The former skipper, who belongs to the Parachute Regiment of the Army, has undergone training in the firing of weapons and other activities.
The high point of his association with the green olives, however, came when Dhoni wrote to the Army saying he wanted to become a true paratrooper by carrying out the essential jumps.
He underwent training with the Special Forces in Agra in 2015 and carried out five jumps to qualify as a paratrooper. The fifth jump was from an AN-32 transport aircraft at a height of 1,250 feet.
Also read: Why India need to lose the toss but beat South Africa in their World Cup opener