MS Dhoni to take patrolling, guard and post duty in Kashmir with 106 Territorial Army Battalion

Former Indian skipper and Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) MS Dhoni has begun his two-month training with Territorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment (106 Para TA battalion) and he will be taking the duties of patrolling, guard and post duty in Kashmir. 

He will be with the unit, which is in Kashmir as part of Victor Force, from 31 Jul-15 Aug 2019.

Dhoni, who was conferred with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army in 2011, has skipped India tour of West Indies, for which a squad was announced earlier in the day.

Dhoni became a qualified paratrooper in 2015 after having completed five parachute training jumps from Indian Army aircrafts in the Agra training camp.

Earlier, Indian wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s request to train with the Indian Army was approved by General Bipin Rawat.

BCCI Chief Selector MSK Prasad on Sunday announced Indian squad for West Indies tour and as per speculations one name was missing from the team - MS Dhoni. Speaking about Dhoni’s absence from the squad, Prasad said that the wicket-keeper batsman was unavailable for the selection.

However, the chief selector also dropped a major hint for Dhoni amid the intense speculations about his retirement. Prasad said that the team management has a plan for the next year’s T-20 International World Cup and more opportunities will be given to Rishabh Pant, also a wicket-keeper batsman.

“He's unavailable for this series but we had certain roadmaps and plans till WC. Subsequently, we've laid down few more plans and thought of giving as many opportunities to Pant and to see he is groomed. This is our plan right now,” Prasad told reporters during a press conference.