A video of an Indian Army officer playing cricket with locals in the fields of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir is going viral on social media. In the video, an officer of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), which works on counter-terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, is seen holding a cricket bat while facing a fast ball.
As the video went viral, social media users expressed surprise and praised the Indian Army for taking part in such events to build harmony and friendship with the local people.
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Indian Army playing cricket with locals in Kashmir’s Shopian! The friendship between the public and the army is growing in Kashmir! These scenes were once unimaginable, but now the youth understand their contribution in empowering them!”
The video quickly caught the attention of people online. Reacting to the clip, one user wrote, “As a Kashmiri, seeing our youth play cricket with the Army in Shopian feels like a new chapter. We want peace, we want progress, and this is the way forward.”
The Indian Army in Shopian Kashmir, playing cricket with the locals!
The bonhomie between the Awaam and the Jawan is strengthening in Kashmir! These scenes were once unimaginable but now the youth understand their contribution in empowering them! pic.twitter.com/C5JShjWRLe
— Fatima Dar (@FatimaDar_jk) August 17, 2025
Another user suggested, “We should start organising cricket matches between security forces (JKP, CRPF, Army, BSF), the media, and corporate groups.” A third user added, “Nice, local community events should be organised more often, especially for youth.”
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The fourth user said, “Beautiful to see such a transformation and change in Shopian.” Meanwhile, the fifth user commented, “This was long overdue… now it is reshaping misled youth and the whole vibe of J&K. Such videos boost confidence in countrymen and also promote tourism, much needed, especially after the Pahalgam massacre.”
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This is not the first time the Indian Army has worked to build bridges through sports. Last month, the Army started the 11th edition of the Chinar Premier League at the Bipin Rawat Stadium in Baramulla, which is named in honour of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff. The 64-team league from the Kashmir Valley aims to give youngsters a chance to showcase their talent and move on to bigger leagues.