BCCI recommends Virat Kohli for Khel Ratna award

BCCI recommends Virat Kohli for Khel ratna award. Image Source: File Pic
BCCI recommends Virat Kohli for Khel ratna award. Image Source: File Pic

Internet Desk: BCCI has recommended Test captain Virat Kohli for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sporting honour, and Ajinkya Rahane for the Arjuna award this year.

If Kohli wins, he would become only the third cricketer after the iconic Sachin Tendulkar and the country’s most successful captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to win India’s highest sporting honour.

BCCI sources confirmed the development.

It is after a gap of four years that a cricketer has been recommended for the Khel Ratna.

The prestigious Khel Ratna award carries a cash price of Rs. 7.5 lakh in addition to a citation, while the Arjuna awardee receives a cash prize of Rs. five lakh and a citation.

Kohli is enjoying a fine run of form in the ongoing Indian Premier League. He was also at the top of his game in the preceding ICC World T20, singlehandedly guiding India to wins over Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

For his exploits, Kohli was named the World T20 Player of the Tournament and skipper of the World T20 team.

Rahane equalled the record of holding the highest number of catches in a Test innings during India’s series win against Sri Lanka last year under Kohli’s leadership.

According to sources, Kohli is facing competition from squash champion Deepika Pallikal, golfer Anirban Lahiri, Asian Games gold medallist shooter Jitu Rai and runner Tintu Luka.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has been going through a stupendous form this year in T20s. His scores of 90*, 59*, 50, 7, 49, 56*, 41*, 23, 55*, 24, 82*, 89*, 75, 79, 33, 80, 100*, 14 and 52 last night against KKR shows the form he has been pusuing in the recent past.

In the last one and half years it has been seen that Virat Kohli’s magnificent form has never affected his attitude. He remained down to earth like before. Yesterday after the match against KKR he congratulated Yusuf Pathan for his brilliant innings of 60* off 29 balls. When KKR captain Gautam Gambhir showed his emotions in the dugout after KKR’s victory, Kohli did nopt react at all rather he took it sportingly.

According to news last received, Virat Kohli has promised to donate his 50% of IPL salary to the old age home in Pune.