The BCCI has nominated Rohit Sharma for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 2020. Awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, it is the highest sporting honour of the Republic of India, for the sportsperson's 'spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years'.
Also, India opener Shikhar Dhawan, fast bowler Ishant Sharma, and women's all-rounder Deepti Sharma have been nominated for the Arjuna Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements in sports.
Rohit Sharma 'The Hitman'
Nicknamed 'The Hitman' for his formidable knocks, Rohit Sharma has been one of India's most dependable run-scorers. He is the first batsman to score five ODI hundreds in a single edition of the World Cup, the first to rack up a quartet of T20I centuries and the first to two tons in his debut as a Test opener.
Speaking about Rohit Sharma's nomination, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said, "Rohit Sharma has set new benchmarks as a batsman and achieved scores people thought were not possible in the shorter formats of the game. We feel he is worthy of getting the prestigious Khel Ratna award for his commitment, conduct, consistency and his leadership skills."
The former India captain also spoke about the other nominees, beginning with Ishant Sharma, "Ishant Sharma is the most senior member of the Test squad and his contribution has been vital in Indian team’s long run as the No. 1 Test side. Fast bowlers are prone to injuries and Ishant has had a fair share of them but he has fought hard to be back on the park every time."
About Shikhar Dhawan and Deepti Sharma, Ganguly observed, "Shikhar has been consistently scoring at the top and his performances in the ICC events have been significant, (while) Deepti is a genuine all-rounder and her contribution to the team has been vital."
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Michael Bradley
