After Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar, Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 29, is in line to be conferred an honorary rank in the defence forces. On Thursday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda wrote to the Ministry of Defence recommending that Dhoni be awarded the honorary rank of Lt Colonel for his ‘stupendous performance and leading team India to lift the World Cup trophy after a gap of 28 years’.
Fans have mixed reactions to the proposal. “Finally, we can literally salute him like the soldiers,” says Naresh Vardhman, 18. Shuchi Sinha, however, says, “What’s wrong with these guys? Those ranks are earned by fighting wars, not playing!”
Kapil Dev got the honorary rank in the Territorial Army in 2008 while Tendulkar was honoured with the rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force last year.
