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.
“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.
