Virat Kohli nominated for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Ajinkya Rahane for Arjuna Award
Virat Kohli, India's Test captain, has been recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the nation's biggest sporting honour, by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). His deputy, Ajinkya Rahane, is also in line for another honour, having been nominated for the Arjuna award.
Kohli is in prolific batting form at the moment and has become the go-to guy in Indian cricket. Having replaced MS Dhoni as India's regular Test captain mid-way during the Australian tour in 2014-15, Kohli led India to an impressive series win in Sri Lanka before blanking the then number one Test playing nation, South Africa, by a 3-0 margin at home.
The number three batsman has been India's pillar of strength in the shorter formats of the game and enjoyed tremendous success with the bat, during consecutive T20 WCs, in 2014 and 2016, named Player of the tournament, both times.
"We have received the recommendations from the BCCI. Their names will be sent to the awards selection committee," a sports ministry official said. If Kohli is awarded the prestigious honour, he will become the third cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar (1997-98) and MS Dhoni (2007-08) to be bestowed with the honour.
While Kohli has been recommended for the country's highest honour, Ajinkya Rahane is in line to receive the Arjuna award. India's new Mr. Consistent, Rahane has been India's best overseas batsman in recent times and capped off a wonderful 2015 with hundreds in both innings in the fourth Test against South Africa, in Delhi.
The Khel Ratna carries a cash reward of Rs 7.5 lakh along with a citation, while the Arjuna award consists of a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation.
