Which Indian cricketer was bestowed with an honorary commission in the Territorial Army of India for his contribution to cricket and the nation?

Introduction / Context:
The Territorial Army of India sometimes grants honorary commissions to eminent civilians who have made outstanding contributions in their fields and brought glory to the nation. Several sportspersons have been recognised in this way. This question checks whether you know which legendary Indian cricketer received such an honorary commission from the Territorial Army, a popular fact in sports and defence related general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The honour is an honorary commission in the Territorial Army of India.
• The individuals listed are Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh.
• We assume standard news records regarding honorary ranks given to cricketers.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall which cricketer formally joined the Territorial Army with an honorary rank. Kapil Dev, the World Cup winning captain of 1983, was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. While some other sportspersons, including Olympians, have also received such honours, this particular question focuses on a famous Indian cricketer. The other names in the options are cricket legends but do not have this specific Territorial Army commission associated with them.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider each option and recall any defence related honours connected with them.Step 2: Remember that Kapil Dev was commissioned as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in recognition of his contribution to Indian cricket.Step 3: Check whether similar Territorial Army honorary ranks are commonly mentioned for Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag or Harbhajan Singh.Step 4: Note that although these players have many awards and civilian honours, they are not widely known for receiving an honorary commission in the Territorial Army.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Kapil Dev.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering typical examination capsules and news articles that refer to Kapil Dev as both a cricketing icon and an honorary officer in the Territorial Army. He is often introduced with that title at ceremonial occasions. No such consistent references exist for the other three players in the context of the Territorial Army. This comparison strongly confirms that Kapil Dev alone matches the description given in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sachin Tendulkar has received many honours, such as the Bharat Ratna and membership in the Rajya Sabha, but not an honorary Territorial Army commission. Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh have also been recognised with various sports awards and brand endorsements, yet no official record links them with such an honorary army commission. Hence, choosing any of these names would be factually incorrect for this particular honour.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent pitfall is to assume that the most famous name in the list, usually Sachin Tendulkar, must be the answer. Another common mistake is to confuse different kinds of honours, such as civilian awards, government positions, or brand ambassadorships, with military honorary ranks. To avoid these errors, it helps to remember that Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup captain, is specifically known for receiving an honorary commission in the Territorial Army.

Final Answer:
The cricketer bestowed with an honorary commission in the Territorial Army is Kapil Dev.