Only two Indian cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar (1997-98) and current limited-overs skipper MS Dhoni (2007), have so far received the Khel Ratna award.
India Test skipper Virat Kohli's name has been recommended for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Board has also forwarded Kohli's teammate and Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane's name for the Arjuna award.
The BCCI has recommended a name for the highest sports award after a gap of four years. In 2012, the BCCI had forwarded former India captain Rahul Dravid as its nomination for the Khel Ratna but wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and shooter Vijay Kumar were conferred with the honour for winning medals at the London Olympics the same year. Dravid later received the Padma Bhushan award, the country's third highest civilian honour, in 2013.
Only two Indian cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar (1997-98) and current limited-overs skipper MS Dhoni (2007), have so far received the Khel Ratna award.
Kohli, who received the Arjuna award in 2013, has had a prolific run of form, single-handedly guiding India to the semifinal of the ICC World T20 earlier this year. The Indian batting sensation was declared the Man of the Tournament for scoring 273 runs at an average of 136.50 and a strike rate of 146.77 with three 50-plus scores. He was also named the captain of the ICC World T20 XI.
"We have received the recommendations from the BCCI. Their names will be sent to the awards selection committee," a sports ministry official said.
However, Kohli would face a tough challenge from other leading Indian sports personalities who have applied for the Khel Ratna. According to sources, some of these include Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Incheon Asian Games gold medallist shooter Jitu Rai, ace golfer Anirban Lahiri, squash sensation Dipika Pallikal and women's 800m athlete Tintu Luka.
Meanwhile, India's Mr Consistent, Rahane, has been rewarded with an Arjuna nomination for his good showing in both Tests and ODIs over the past few months, despite getting limited opportunities to showcase his skills. Last year, Rohit Sharma had received the Arjuna award.
Among the Arjuna award hopefuls, archer Laxmi Rani Manjhi, athletes Lalita Babar, OP Jaisha, and shooters Apurvi Chandela and PN Prakash are in the fray.
The Khel Ratna carries a prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh along with a citation, while the Arjuna award consists a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a citation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "kohli-rahane")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}