IPL 2018: BCCI recommends Virat Kohli for Rajiv Gandhi khel ratna

The Board Of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) recommended the name of Indian skipper Virat Kohli for the country's highest sports honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Along with Virat Kohli, BCCI also recommended former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid for the Prestigious Dronacharya award. Also, BCCI recommended the name of legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar for the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Yes, we have sent a number of nominations in various categories to the government. Rahul is the BCCI nominee for the Dronacharya award," Vinod Rai from BCCI told PTI.

Rahul Dravid has been nominated the prestigious award for his exceptional guidance he provided the Indian U-19 squad leading to the team winning the U-19 world cup. Rahul Dravid has also worked with India A team and is the bridge between international and junior cricket.

BCCI had stopped sending nominations for the Dronacharya Award due to multiple coaches claiming to have been involved in a player's training and their achievements.

"It happened when a former India opener had signed two nominations where coaches claimed that the player worked under them. From then, we had stopped sending nominations," a senior BCCI official said.

"However when Rajkumar Sharma (Kohli coach) got Dronacharya award, it was a personal nomination. He was not BCCI nominee. For someone of Rahul's stature, we have decided to depart from convention," the official added.

BCCI has recommended Virat Kohli for the prestigious award for the second time in a row. Kohli was recommended for the award in 2016 as well but his name was glossed over because of three Olympic medalists in the Rio Olympics. The players PV Sindhu, Dipa Karmakar and Sakshi Malik performed exceptionally well in their respective events. 

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