A Tradition of Honour
The practice of conferring honorary military ranks upon distinguished civilians is a way for the armed forces to acknowledge individuals who have brought significant laurels to the nation and embody values like discipline, dedication, and leadership.
These ranks are symbolic, serving to honour the person's achievements and inspire the country's youth by creating a bridge between the worlds of sports and national service. The athletes who receive this honour become brand ambassadors for the forces, strengthening the bond between citizens and soldiers.
Sachin Tendulkar: Group Captain, IAF
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, often called the 'Master Blaster', was the first sportsperson to be conferred an honorary rank in the Indian Air Force (IAF). In 2010, he was made an honorary Group Captain. The honour recognised his extraordinary achievements in cricket and his status as a national icon. By accepting the rank, Tendulkar became the first person without an aviation background to receive this distinction, vowing to be a proud brand ambassador for the IAF.
MS Dhoni: Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Army
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of India's most successful cricket captains, was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in 2011. The honour was bestowed upon him for his outstanding contribution to cricket, including leading India to World Cup victory. Dhoni has taken his association seriously, becoming affiliated with the 106 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) of the Parachute Regiment. He has also completed parachute training jumps and served with his unit in Jammu and Kashmir, fulfilling a childhood dream of being associated with the army.
Kapil Dev: Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Army
Long before it became a more common practice for modern sports stars, the captain of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Kapil Dev, was commissioned as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in 2008. Known as the 'Haryana Hurricane', his induction into the 150 TA (Infantry) battalion of the Punjab Regiment was seen as a move that would help attract more talent to the armed forces. Kapil Dev proudly called it his 'second innings' in service of the nation.
Abhinav Bindra: Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Army
In 2011, alongside MS Dhoni, ace shooter Abhinav Bindra was also conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. This came in recognition of his historic achievement of winning India's first individual Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The honour acknowledged his incredible focus, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence—qualities that are deeply valued in the military.
Neeraj Chopra: Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Army
Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, who was already a Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles, was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2025. As India's first-ever Olympic gold medallist in track and field at Tokyo 2020 and a silver medallist at Paris 2024, his appointment recognises his exceptional service and achievements. Having joined the army in 2016, his journey from a Junior Commissioned Officer to an honorary Lieutenant Colonel highlights the armed forces' support for sporting talent.
