The special number: This die-hard MSD fan is on a mission to get '183' autographs from his idol
For Pranav Jain, '183' has always been a special number.
By PTI | Updated:
PTI
Jain, whose formative years were all about 'Captain Cool', has, in fact, travelled across the globe to collect his icon's autograph.
KOLKATA: There's a certain amount of intrigue associated with the number 183 in Indian cricket and die-hard fans have their own reasons for remembering the number.
For most, it is the score India defended against the mighty West Indies at the 1983 World Cup, for some it is Sourav Ganguly's epic World Cup knock at Taunton.
But for a millenial like Pranav Jain of Bengaluru, 183 means Mahendra Singh Dhoni's career-best ODI score and the 22-year-old's 'mission' is to get 183 autographs of India's most decorated cricket captain and by the time he landed in Kolkata, he already had 153 in his kitty.
It has become an obsession now and Jain expects in another year or so, his "mission" will be accomplished. "Mahi bhai has promised me 183 autographs but with a rider. He has told me "Jis din tera 183 complete hoga, tujhe aur koi autograph nahi milega". I am planning to get 10 autographs today and it will be 163," Jain, who is set to join his family business, told PTI while waiting for Dhoni to complete his shoot at a Kolkata resort.
Jain, whose formative years were all about 'Captain Cool', has in fact travelled across the globe to collect his icon's autograph on gloves, bats, posters, sketches, whatever he could lay his hands on.
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It has become an obsession now and Jain expects in another year or so, his "mission" will be accomplished.
Dhoni was in the city for a commercial shoot with another World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev.
Kapil has been in the city since Monday and was chief guest at an event in Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan (BSS) girls school.
Lt. Col Dhoni Returns After 2-Week Army Stint: Here's Everything He Did In J&K
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Former Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, an honorary lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army, was spotted back in Delhi on Saturday after he joined the Army troops in the militancy-infested south Kashmir region on July 30 to carry out patrolling, guard duties and similar responsibilities just like other soldiers.
The Chennai Super Kings captain was clicked with his daughter Ziva (left). The 38-year-old cricketer spent quality time with his daughter as well before leaving for Army duty last month.
Former Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, an honorary lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army, was spotted back in Delhi on Saturday after he joined the Army troops in the militancy-infested..
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The former cricket team captain stayed with his 106 TA Battalion (Para) till August 15, and undertook duties with the troops.
Soon after he left for Srinagar from Delhi airport on July 30, his pictures donning the army outfit and performing his daily tasks went viral on social media.
The former cricket team captain stayed with his 106 TA Battalion (Para) till August 15, and undertook duties with the troops.
Soon after he left for Srinagar from Delhi airport on July 30, his pict..
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The World Cup winning captain's two-week stint with his unit was approved by the Army headquarters in July on Dhoni's request. Lt Col Dhoni's unit was deployed in the militancy-infested south Kashmir region as part of Victor Force.
Amid retirement speculations, Dhoni told Board of Control for Cricket in India that he needed a two-month sabbatical from the game to serve his parachute regiment. While he ruled out immediate retirement, he made himself "unavailable" for the West Indies tour, starting on August 3, a day before the selectors met in Mumbai to pick the squads.
Dhoni was seen signing a cricket bat during his his stint in Srinagar.
The World Cup winning captain's two-week stint with his unit was approved by the Army headquarters in July on Dhoni's request. Lt Col Dhoni's unit was deployed in the militancy-infested south Kashmir..
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Dhoni was accorded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2011. He is also a qualified paratrooper after having completed five parachute training jumps.
The wicket-keeper-batsman has been conferred the Padma Bhushan, the country's third highest civilian award, by President Ramnath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dhoni was accorded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2011. He is also a qualified paratrooper after having completed five parachute training jumps.
The wicket-keeper-batsman has been confer..
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Various photos have surfaced on social media where the cricketer was seen interacting with people from the armed forces, playing cricket and volleyball with members of his Territorial Army battalion, and even humming a few lines of the song 'Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon' from Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 1976 movie 'Kabhi Kabhie'.
Various photos have surfaced on social media where the cricketer was seen interacting with people from the armed forces, playing cricket and volleyball with members of his Territorial Army battalion,..
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In 2015, he became a qualified paratrooper after having completed five parachute training jumps from Indian Army aircrafts in the Agra training camp.
The Territorial Army is a part of the Army. Its role is to relieve the regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services.
In 2015, he became a qualified paratrooper after having completed five parachute training jumps from Indian Army aircrafts in the Agra training camp.
The Territorial Army is a part of the Army. Its ..
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Dhoni was in Ladakh to celebrate India's 73rd Independence Day with the masses of the newly formed union territory. He received a warm reception from the Army personnel (right), and also visited the staff and patients at Army General Hospital (left).
(All images from PTI, Twitter/@msdfansofficial, Twitter/@ChennaiIPL & Instagram/@ziva_singh_dhoni)
Dhoni was in Ladakh to celebrate India's 73rd Independence Day with the masses of the newly formed union territory. He received a warm reception from the Army personnel (right), and also visited the ..
