NEW DELHI - Indian cricket player Mahendra Singh Dhoni is going to start army services in dispute- torn Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday to execute his duties as an honorary colonel in the army, the army said.

Dhoni will be remaining out from Indian Cricket team’s tour of the West Indies that will start this week and there has been speculation he might retire after striving in this month's World Cup that saw India hit out in the semi-finals.

The  Batsman and wicketkeeper who always enjoys cult status in cricket-mad India is part of the Territorial Army, a reservist force that draws on civilians who can do short tasks to serve the military. He will do a 15-day task with the Victor Force involved in counter-insurgency operations against militants fighting Indian rule in the country's only Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.

"He will be taking on the duties of patrolling, guard and post duty and would be staying with troops," the army said in a statement, adding that its headquarters had approved a schedule which incorporated Dhoni's requests.

Dhoni has trained as a commando and jumped from aircraft, an army official said, adding, "This stint in Kashmir is part of his training." Getting used of sports personalities like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose brand value is worth millions of dollars, helps the security forces raise their profile, particularly among young people who are their key pool of recruits.

More recently, he has played a role beyond hitting sixes and getting out batsmen though his glovework behind the stumps.

In March, at Dhoni's command, Indian cricketer team wore army camouflage-style caps during a match to show harmony with paramilitary police killed in a militant assault in Kashmir by a Pakistan-based group.

In the World Cup, India’s opening match with South Africa at the World Cup, Dhoni stirred dispute with gloves that wore the Territorial Army's dagger badge. International Cricket Council asked for the replacement of the insignia, placing off a nationalistic furor in India.

Mahi, who turned 38 this month, captained the side to the World Twenty20 title in 2007 and their second 50-over World Cup trophy in 2011 at home. Widely recognized the best 'finisher' in contemporary cricket, he is a veteran of 350 one-dayers.