In an attempt to pay respect to the martyred CRPF personnel in the cowardly Pulwama terror attack, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli wore a special camouflage cap when he came out for the toss in the third ODI against Australia in Ranchi. Earlier, Kohli won the toss and opted to bowl and said that the entire team will wear the special military caps in Ranchi as a tribute to the fallen CRPF men.
The Indian skipper added that all the players will donate their match fee of this particular game to the National Defence Fund. The money will be used for the well-being of the families of the Pulwama martyrs.
Here is the video of the same:
To pay homage to the martyrs of Pulwama Terror Attack, the players will donate today's match fee to the National Defence Fund #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/vM9U16M8DQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019
Kohli also urged the nation to come forward and donate generously to the National Defence Fund. The attack took place on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, leaving 40 Central Reserve Police Force troopers dead.
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According to reports, the move has been suggested by none other than Lt. Col. MS Dhoni (he’s with the Territorial Army) and skipper Kohli.
Lt Col Mahendra Singh Dhoni presents the camouflage cap to #TeamIndia Captain @imVkohli #JaiHind 🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/edLkFJQvSV
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019
Earlier, Dhoni presented the special caps to all the team members and the support staff soon after the warm-up at his home ground – the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Sharing the video of the same, BCCI tweeted, “#TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as a mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces”.
#TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces
And to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/fvFxHG20vi
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019
While the process starts in the third ODI of the ongoing series between India and Australia in Ranchi, it will now be a norm during one game every season on Indian soil.
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Speaking to IANS, a senior BCCI official said that Dhoni’s love for the armed forces is well documented. He said, “It’s fitting that the start of this annual event is being done at the home town of Lt. Col. Dhoni because it is not a superficial event but a sincere one. I for one will not be surprised if Dhoni ends up doing active service after he hangs his boots.”
A closer look at the camouflage caps which #TeamIndia is sporting today#JaiHind 🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/3qExYp7Cvy
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019
The BCCI official further added, “To me, today’s symbolic act depicting solidarity with the forces is more powerful than the one involving monetary donation by the BCCI. The idea is to pay tribute to the armed forces and their families. To encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs. Dhoni will be presenting these caps to his team-mates and former India players in the support staff soon after the warm-ups. These caps will also be given to former India players who are part of the commentary team.”
WATCH – The Indian Team Pays Tribute To Martyrs Of Pulwama
Sources in the know of the whole development said that Dhoni and Kohli worked closely with Nike in this whole initiative.
Describing the same, the BCCI official said, “They have been working closely with our apparel partner Nike for the past six months with inputs in the design and proposed implementation of the initiative.”
