IND vs AUS 3rd ODI: MS Dhoni presents army caps to Virat Kohli & Co as Team India pay tribute to Pulwama martyrs
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.