5 Indian cricketers who expressed their admiration for the Armed Forces ft. Sachin Tendulkar

Cricketers in India have often held a deep connection with the nation's Armed Forces. Be it Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar or the legendary Kapil Dev, a lot of famous names have been involved with the defense services in some way.

The latest to enter into the ranks was leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who spent a day with the Rashtriya Rifles' Dogra regiment in their Uttar Pradesh base on Friday, August 9.

As it happens regularly with meetings of this sort, Chahal emerged from the rendezvous a man renewed with vigor, as could be deduced from his most recent post on the social media platform Instagram.

He is, however, not the first. In this listicle, we take a look at five Indian cricketers who have expressed their admiration for the Armed Forces:

#1 Yuzvendra Chahal

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took part in a special meet-and-greet session with the Special Forces of the Rashtriya Rifles' Dogra regiment commandos in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, August 9.

The session left the leggie decidedly in awe of the men in uniform, if his most recent post on the social media platform Instagram is anything to go by. Chahal wrote glowingly about the pride he felt in meeting them.

"It has been an honor to spend time here in the esteemed company of these distinguished gentlemen. This experience is truly beyond words. The profound pride I feel as an Indian, being able to witness and share in the nation's honor is magnified by the presence of the brave men who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe. Jai Hind 🇮🇳," he wrote.

#2 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings looks on during the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on April 27, 2023 in Jaipur, India.(Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was made an honorary lieutenant colonel of the Territorial Army in 2011, also became a qualified paratrooper after completing five parachute training jumps in 2015.

Dhoni has often expressed his deep admiration for the Indian Armed Forces and often spent time with them, either while training or making trips to boost the morale of the soldiers.

The wicketkeeper-batter is known to have also trained with the National Security Guard, where a friend of his was deputed. His fascination with weapons technology and curiosity about machines makes him appreciate the forces.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar

Not a lot of people know that cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was made an honorary group captain by the Indian Air Force in 2010 for his continued service to the nation as well as his admiration for the defense services.

Notably, the Master Blaster was also the first sportsperson to be conferred with the honorary position without an aviation background. He has often expressed the respect he has for the airmen among whom he has been placed.

On the occasion of Indian Air Force Day 2023, which falls on October 8, Tendulkar took to the microblogging site X (formerly known as Twitter) to greet the employees of the service and wish them on its 91st anniversary.

“On the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the IAF, I extend my congratulations to all personnel and families of the IAF. I thank the Indian Air Force for giving me an opportunity to don the blues. I wear the uniform with great pride and honour and I cherish being a part of the IAF. I felt the same way each time I wore the blues when I played for India,” he had said in a video on X.

#4 Gautam Gambhir

In the past, current India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his regret at not being able to join the army, which was apparently his first love. The former Lok Sabha member from East Delhi has a stellar CV to boot.

The southpaw was a member of the Indian T20 World Cup-winning team in 2007 as well as the ODI World Cup-winning team in 2011, and was appointed the head coach of the side after Rahul Dravid stepped down earlier this year.

Speaking to a podcast in the past, Gambhir had expressed his desire to join the army when he was in Class XI and his regret at not doing so.

"I love the army. That always remains my first love. The only regret is that I couldn't join the army. And I thought about it when I was in the 11th standard. My mom asked me what I wanted to do and I said that I wanted to join NDA (National Defence Academy). But, the destiny has its own say and I couldn't join the NDA." he had said.

#5 Kapil Dev

Former India captain Kapil Dev speaking at a press conference.

Not a lot of cricket fans are aware of the fact that India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev is an honorary lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army. The all-rounder was bestowed with this honor in 2008 when he was 49 years old.

He was commissioned in the 150 TA (Infantry) Battalion of the Punjab Regiment. This honor not only celebrated his cricketing achievements but also acknowledged his deep-rooted commitment towards serving the nation.

Kapil has often spoken glowingly about the service of the Indian Armed Forces and the sacrifices they make for the citizens of this country to live and breathe in peace and in an atmosphere free of terror.