Besides Mohammed Siraj, 5 Indian Cricketers Who Hold A Position Within Indian Government
5 Indian Players Who Hold Government Jobs (@MahiGOAT07,@sachin_rt/X.com)
Many Indian cricketers, especially in the earlier decades, were offered government jobs as a means to support their careers financially. Cricket was never a rich sport in the 1980s. However, the modern-day dynamics have changed, with players no longer in need of extra career responsibilities.
Still, to honour their on-field contributions, many cricketers continue to get conferred with respective positions in multiple government agencies. Whether through honorary military ranks or working in important civil services, many acclaimed names explored different avenues to serve the country, thus proving that their influence extends well beyond the cricket field.
On that note, here are five such Indian cricketers who currently hold government positions.
1. MS Dhoni - Lieutenant Colonel, Indian Army
1. MS Dhoni - Lieutenant Colonel, Indian Army (@MahiGOAT07/X.com)
Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the most successful captains in cricket history, is also a proud Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army. He was awarded this honorary rank by the Territorial Army in 2011.
Dhoni's love for the military is well-known, and he has often been associated with the Indian Army. He even underwent training with the Indian Army's parachute regiment and took a sabbatical from cricket in 2019 to serve in Kashmir with the Territorial Army.
2. KL Rahul - Assistant Manager, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
2. KL Rahul - Assistant Manager, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (@RBI/Youtube)
Indian batter KL Rahul also holds a government job with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Rahul secured this role through the sports quota system in 2018. Despite his busy cricketing schedule, Rahul filled out all the necessary paperwork and officially became an assistant manager before leaving for an international tour. He also shot several advertisements for the bank to raise awareness about the ongoing scams and frauds.
3. Sachin Tendulkar - Group Captain, Indian Air Force
3. Sachin Tendulkar - Group Captain, Indian Air Force (@mufaddal_vohra/X.com)
Even the 'God of Cricket,' Sachin Tendulkar, has served the country in another capacity. In 2010, Tendulkar was conferred the honorary title of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force, making him the first and only sportsperson to receive such an honour without an aviation background. The IAF awarded him this post in recognition of his tremendous contributions to Indian cricket. Tendulkar, meanwhile, takes an active part in the Air Force's special events and air shows to motivate the fighter pilots.
4. Yuzvendra Chahal - Income Tax Officer
4. Yuzvendra Chahal - Income Tax Officer (@yuzi_chahal/X.com)
Yuzvendra Chahal works as an Income Tax Officer in Haryana after being appointed through sports quota. While he continues to focus on cricket, his role with the Income Tax Department ensures a future career outside of sports. Although he is currently not a regular in India's playing XI, Chahal continues to contribute to the game and his professional role.
5. Joginder Sharma - DSP, Haryana
5. Joginder Sharma - DSP, Haryana (@manoj_kumarCR7/X.com)
Joginder Sharma is remembered for his heroics in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. He defended 12 runs off the final over to help India clinch their first T20 World Cup title. Meanwhile, following his cricket career, Sharma transitioned to a full-time government role and became a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Haryana. He never returned to the cricket field thereafter and transitioned full time to the Haryana Police Force.
 "Akshita Patel")
