New Delhi: India’s Test captain Virat Kohli has been recommended for the top sports award in the country — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna — by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), while his teammate Ajinkya Rahane has been nominated for the Arjuna Award.
Kohli, who is currently leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been the country’s top batsman ever since Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013 and his consistency has even invited comparisons with the little master.
Confirming the news to Network 18, a BCCI source said: “Kohli’s name has been sent to the Sports Ministry for the Khel Ratna and Rahane for the Arjuna Award.”
Kohli, who replaced MS Dhoni as the Test captain in 2014-15, has led the country to historic Test series wins in Sri Lanka and at home against South Africa.
The batsman from Delhi has a special knack of producing his best with the bat while chasing targets in limited-overs cricket, with most of his centuries coming batting second and in a winning cause.
He recently hit his maiden T20 century against Gujarat Lions in the ongoing IPL 9.
On the other hand, Rahane has lent stability to India’s middle order with his consistency in every format and rises to the occasion in tough overseas conditions.
