By Chirag
May 10, 2025
From cricket fields to military honors, these five Indian cricketers have earned more than just sporting accolades.
Here are five cricketers who hold honorary ranks in the armed forces:
CK Nayudu, India’s first Test captain, was given the honorary title of Colonel by the ruler of Holkar state in 1923.
Hemu Adhikari, a former Test cricketer and wartime officer, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during his military career.
Tendulkar became the first sportsperson without an aviation background to be awarded the rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force in 2010, in recognition of his inspirational legacy.
Kapil Dev, India’s first World Cup-winning captain, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in 2008.
MS Dhoni received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2011 and served with the 106 Para TA battalion in Jammu & Kashmir in 2019.