Mumbai: India opener Rohit Sharma has been recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest award for a sportsperson in the country. Along with him, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, table tennis player Manika Batra and 2016 Paralympic gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu have also been recommended for the prestigious award.
TT player Manika Batra and Paralympic gold-medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu also recommended for Khel Ratna by awards selection committee
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 18, 2020
The decision was taken after the selection panel had a meeting on Tuesday (August 18) to finalise on the awards. The recommendations are subject to approval by the Sports Minister and once approved, President Ram Nath Kovind will present the awards. If Rohit gets the award, he will become the fourth cricketer to do so. Before him, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli had received the Khel Ratna.
Cricketer Rohit Sharma and wrestler Vinesh Phogat among four sportspersons picked for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna by awards selection committee
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 18, 2020
Rohit has been in phenomenal form since 2019 as he finished the year as the highest run-scorer in the 50-over format, scoring a staggering 1,490 runs in ODIs including seven hundreds – the most by any player in the calendar year. He also finished the 2019 World Cup as the tournament top-scorer with 648 runs. Earlier this year, he was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year.
The Mumbai batsman had a revival in Test cricket too when he was promoted to the opening slot during the series against South Africa. He struck two hundreds in his maiden outing as a Test opener before adding a double century to his name in the Ranchi Test. Overall, his 2019 across formats reads 2,442 runs at an average of 53 with 10 hundreds.
