By: Tarish Bhatt
Captain Cool, MS Dhoni isn’t just cricketer and India’s most marketable sports’ personality – he is also the kind of role model that Gen-Next can look up to. Dhoni, arguably India’s most successful captain to date, will now be hopping off a real helicopter after introducing the grand helicopter shot in the stadium.
This is a part of his Para Training. Though several other achievers from diverse fields have been bestowed honorary positions in the Indian military forces, a few have shown the kind of commitment and integrity for this role that MS Dhoni is demonstrating.
MS Dhoni was commissioned in the Territorial Army in 2011 and was given the rank of Lt. Colonel in India’s elite force 106 Infantry Battalion (TA) Para in 2014. This special force is entrusted with the task of carrying out operations behind enemy lines.
When MS Dhoni completes his training under the supervision of instructors of the Para Training School, he shall be entitled to a badge-shaped like blue wings with an umbrella representing the parachute wings he so loves.
Officials from the Ministry of Defence have clarified that MS Dhoni’s training will continue for two weeks, a duration within which he is required to do a minimum of five jumps. Group Captain Basant B Pandey, media in-charge of IAF, revealed that MS Dhoni arrived in Agra on August 5, beginning training the very next day.
This dedication is very much in keeping with Dhoni’s philosophy of national pride. With Independence Day around the corner, the spirit of nationalism is something the Indian cricket captain is demonstrating by leading from the front.
As for details of Dhoni’s training schedule, Dhoni will practice jumping at the Malpura Para-dropping zone, along with other elite Para-troopers who also practice here.
These jumps are made from heights of 15,000 feet or more, and MS Dhoni is most likely make his first jump in the company of other experienced paratroopers from an MI-26, MI-17 or Hercules C-130J.
Interestingly, before becoming a full-time cricketer MS Dhoni harbored an ambition to be in the armed forces himself. In fact weapons, tanks and combat had fascinated him from his earliest childhood.
MS Dhoni admitted recently that access to a position in the armed forces through cricket was nothing short of a dream come true for him. While hearing about the exploits of his friends in similar positions, Dhoni always longed to get a taste of the action on the frontlines himself.
