BCCI recommends Virat Kohli’s name for Khel Ratna Award

The Board for Cricket Control in India confirmed that they had recommended Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s name for country's highest sporting honor Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. This is the second time Virat Kohli's name has been recommended for the Khel Ratna award by the country's cricket board. In 2016, the BCCI had recommended Kohli's name for the coveted award but unfortunately, the Indian skipper was not chosen by the government of India.

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid's name was recommended for the coveted Dronacharya award following the tremendous success he had with the India A team and the Under 19 side that won the World Cup in New Zealand. Former Indian legend, Sunil Gavaskar's name has been recommended for Dhyan Chand Award, which is India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games. Earlier, the BCCI had recommended Indian cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Shikhar Dhawan for the Arjuna Award.

If Kohli bags the award this time, he would become the third cricketer to get the Khel Ratna after legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and India’s most successful captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Tendulkar received the award in 1997 while Dhoni acquired it in 2007 following the World T20 win. The esteemed award is given for the remarkable and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a span of four years. The prestigious award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years.