Team India flaunts special Army caps in a special tribute to the special Army Forces for their special service to the country..!
Ranchi, March 8: Indian Cricket Team, that is playing their 3rd ODI against Australia today, has given a special patriotic touch to the match by playing in camouflage caps dedicated towards the armed forces.
As a mark of respect for the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terrorist attack, the Indian cricketers are sporting special Army caps during the match. In a heartfelt gesture, they also donated their match fee to the National Defence Fund.
“This is a special cap, it's a tribute to the Armed forces. We're all donating our match fees of this game to the National Defence Fund. I urge everyone in the country to do the same, donate and stick to the families of our armed forces”, shared Captain Virat Kohli who came out for the toss wearing the camouflage military cap, which had the BCCI's logo on it.
Former Captain and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, is behind floating the idea for this tribute. In a video released by BCCI’s official twitter handle, Dhoni was seen handing the caps to his teammates.
At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the Pulwama attack, for which Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility.
However, BCCI has made it clear that it was a one off gesture and rejected media reports that this could become an annual practice. “The circumstances in this case are extraordinary, we don't have plans to make it an annual affair”, an official said in a statement.
Earlier, the BCCI had decided to donate the entire budget of the IPL opening ceremony for the benefit of the families of those martyred in the terrorist attack. So, there will be no IPL opening ceremony this year.