5 Indian Players Who Have A Rank In The Indian Army

Sports are always a powerful bridge to inspire the youth and the upcoming generation. In India, the connection between the Indian players and the armed forces goes beyond imagination. Several iconic players have made the transition from the pitch to the service of the nation.

There are a dozen players of the blue brigade who have turned into Armed Forces Heroes. They have not only excelled in sporting careers but have also demonstrated their huge commitment to protecting the country.

Here is the list of the five Indian players who have a rank in the Indian Army

1. Sachin Tendulkar

The former Indian batter, Sachin Tendulkar, is a renowned name across formats in world cricket and has earned success with his incredible performance with the bat in every situation.

He is the leading run-getter in international cricket with 34357 runs in 782 innings at an average of 48.52 and a strike rate of 67.58, yanks to 100 centuries.

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The pantheon of players is blessed with the presence of Tendulkar. He was conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force in 2010.

The distinction made him the first person without any background to receive such an honor.

2. MS Dhoni

There are hardly any discussions with the military associations without the mention of the former Indian captain, MS Dhoni. He is the only leader in the world to win all three ICC trophies- the ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy.

Dhoni’s connection with the armed forces extended beyond symbolism, as he actively served with the army in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, just before the ODI World Cup, which exemplifies his commitment to the country.

3. Sunil Gavaskar

In inspiring many cricketers to start their careers in the game, Sunil Gavaskar has earned so much success with the bat in the past. He is the country’s third leading run-getter of the longest format with 10122 runs in 214 innings at an average of 51.12, with the help of 34 centuries at the best score of unbeaten 236 runs.

Gavaskar has a distinguished association with the armed forces. In recognition of his achievements and his patriotism, he was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. He was one of the earliest members to join the national army.

4. Kapil Dev

The Haryana all-rounder inspired a huge number of groups in the past to play the game and have success in their cricketing career. He won the ODI World Cup 1983 with a young side and also gained fame instantly.

Widely regarded as the national treasure, Kapil joined the army in 2009 and was later awarded the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the army.

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This was celebrated by the entire country. In the cricketing structure, the former captain is the third leading wicket-taker in the longest format for the country with 434 wickets in 227 innings at an average of just below 30 and a strike rate of 63.91, thanks to 23 five-wicket hauls.

5. Ravi Shastri

The former all-rounder and the head coach of the side, Ravi Shastri, has also captivated the fans with his all-rounder skills with a connection in the Indian army. He was awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel, which shows his status as a true ambassador of the game.

More than his cricketing career, his coaching career of winning two Border-Gavaskar Trophies in Australia for the very first time was a significant achievement.