India vs Australia 3rd ODI: MS Dhoni handed camouflaged caps to Indian team ahead of Ranchi ODI to honour the Indian armed forces.
In a touching gesture, Team India sported camouflage caps during the Ranchi ODI on Friday as a mark of respect for the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terrorist attack. The gesture also was meant to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs.
Indian cricketers also donated their match fee to the National Defence Fund. A playing XI member gets Rs 8 lakh as match fees per game in ODIs and the reserve players get half that amount.
However, a top official of the Board 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," the official said.
Ahead of the 3rd ODI against Australia, MS Dhoni presented the special camouflaged caps to his teammates. Dhoni, who is an honourary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, presented the caps to the Virat Kohli and members of the Indian cricket team ahead of the toss. Virat then handed Dhoni his cap.
India vs Australia 3rd ODI: Live score and updates from Ranchi
Earlier, the BCCI had decided to donate the entire budget of the IPL opening ceremony for the benefit of the families of those killed in the terrorist attack.
1. Team India wear army caps
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The video was shared by BCCI its official Twitter account with a caption that read, "#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."
#TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019
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
(Twitter @BCCI)
2. Lt Col Dhoni presents the caps to Team India
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MS Dhoni presented the special camouflaged caps to his teammates. Dhoni, who is known for his love of Indian Army, presented the caps to the Virat Kohli and members of the Indian cricket team ahead of the toss in the game being played in his hometown Ranchi. The entire squad, along with the support staff, gathered in a line with Dhoni handing out the special caps to the everyone.
(Twitter @BCCI)
3. Team India to donate match fees
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At the toss, Kohli also informed that the Indian players would donate their match fee for the 3rd ODI to the families of the Pulwama martyrs. "To pay homage to the martyrs of Pulwama Terror Attack, the players will donate today's match fee to the National Defence Fund #JaiHind," BCCI wrote on Twitter.
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
(Image: AFP)
4. Dhoni-Kohli behind the idea
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According to a report, the move has been mooted by none other than Lt. Col. MS Dhoni (he's with the Territorial Army) and current skipper Virat Kohli.
Sources in the know of the whole development said that Dhoni and Kohli worked closely with Nike in this whole initiative. "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," the report quoted a official as saying.
(Image: AFP)
5. It’s a special cap, says Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli said at the toss, “It’s a special cap. This is to pay respect to the martyrs of the Pulwama attack and their families. All the players in the team have decided to donate our match fees to the National Defence Fund and I as the captain of the team would urge everyone in the country to do the same and contribute to the National Defence Fund and help in the education and well being of the families and children of those who lost their lives in the attack.”
(Image: AFP)
