When I tell you that I thought India Today’s YouTube video, headlined, “Lt Col M.S Dhoni Deployed In Kashmir Valley As Part Of Victor Force” was a joke of some sort, I sure as hell wasn’t expecting to see Dhoni – yeah, the cricketer – suited up, ready to be deployed in Kashmir.

Yet, somehow, it’s true. 

Call me a fool, but I wasn’t even aware that Dhoni had been given an honorary title. Yet, a quick Google search (okay, yes – Wikipedia) led me to the following: “The Indian Territorial Army conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Dhoni on 1 November 2011. He is the second Indian cricketer after Kapil Dev to receive this honor.”

I also happened to be scrolling on Twitter, and I saw that this had been tweeted out:

This is when I realized that this isn’t just exaggerated clickbait, it’s real. Unless they’re REALLY good and got ESPN involved too, which seems a tad bit much.

Colonel Aman Anand, a spokesperson of the Indian Army, confirmed that Dhoni will serve in the Kashmir Valley from July 31 – August 15, performing his duties alongside the troops. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0V-XzFB0fm/

I’m obviously not the only person taken aback by this. Given how things have been between India and Pakistan, and the fact that Dhoni has fans here as well (because let’s face it, he’s a great sportsman) this change of hats hasn’t exactly settled in well with people.

Consequently, awaam touchy hogayi

And, obviously, the tea jokes have begun to…pour in. 

Seriously, people can’t stop themselves

https://twitter.com/mani_darr/status/1154364250812571648

https://twitter.com/MuhammedRiaz54/status/1154380480474599425

Stuff probably got messier in the replies, but I’ll cap this off here. I’m still a little surprised, but that’s on me for being ill-informed. Anyway, what’s your take on this? Let me know in the comments.

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