New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday nominated India’s Test skipper and prolific batsman Virat Kohli for the esteemed Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Meanwhile, Kohli’s teammate Ajinkya Rahane has been recommended for the Arjuna Award. It is after a gap of four years that a cricketer has been recommended by the BCCI for the Khel Ratna.
Kohli, who claimed the Arjuna Award in 2013, was named for the Khel Ratna after he single-handedly guided India to the semi-finals of the World T20. The 27-year-old was adjudged the `Man of the Tournament` for smashing a total of 273 runs and was also named the captain of the World T20 XI. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and current limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni are the only Indian cricketers to have received the Khel Ratna so far.
The prestigious 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.
