One of the most successful captains in international cricket and Team India, MS Dhoni is also an honorary rank holder in the Indian Army and has the prestigious Maroon Beret.

However, there was some opposition at first to the idea to give him this rank. Retired Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia told a gripping tale about Dhoni's subsequent reconsideration of the captain's honorary status.

In a podcast, Bhatia admitted that he was first hesitant to see Dhoni acquire the rank, questioning whether a civilian could truly preserve the grandeur of a paratrooper. However, after witnessing the cricketer's genuine commitment, Bhatia changed his mind.

"Our chief at the time was General VK Singh. He decided that MS Dhoni, who was the Indian team captain then, should be given an honorary rank. I was a bit reluctant. The maroon beret is very prestigious; to become a paratrooper, one must undergo six months of probation. It is incredibly tough, with a selection rate of only 20%, and the goal is to break your will. Giving the Maroon Beret to someone without that probation felt wrong,” Bhatia explained in a podcast.

Despite these initial misgivings, Dhoni demonstrated his mettle. Bhatia stated that Dhoni served as a soldier and completed all required responsibilities, including an assignment near the Line of Control (LoC).

"MS Dhoni has done a lot for the country. I am very proud of him and his achievements. They call him 'Captain Cool,' and he possessed immense passion. He even admitted to me that he was afraid of heights, yet he still went ahead and jumped. He completed his paratrooper jumps and always upheld the dignity of the uniform. He behaved and marched like a soldier; I could feel that he was a true soldier at heart. Furthermore, he served in Jammu and Kashmir with our units, traveling right up to the Line of Control. His motivation was truly remarkable,” Bhatia added.  

In 2011, Dhoni received the honorary title of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army (106 Para TA Battalion). After completing five parachute training jumps to qualify as a paratrooper in 2015, he is allowed to wear the Para Wing insignia and the special maroon beret.