BCCI nominates R Ashwin and Mithali Raj for the 2021 Khel Ratna Award
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen to suggest Indian spinner R Ashwin and women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour, for this year.
KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shikhar Dhawan’s names will be forwarded for the Arjuna Award, according to ANI.
Since his debut in 2010, the 34-year-old right-arm off-breaker has appeared in 79 Tests, 111 One-Day Internationals, and 46 Twenty-20 Internationals for India.
Mithali just became the first and only woman to play international cricket for more than 22 years. On June 26, 1999, the 38-year-old icon made her debut. In both men’s and women’s cricket, only Sachin Tendulkar (22 years 91 days) had a lengthier career than Mithali Raj. No other cricketer has played for the national team for as long as he has.
Earlier this year, the Union Sports Ministry agreed to extend the deadline for submitting applications for the National Sports Awards 2021.
In addition, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has suggested footballer Sunil Chhetri for the Khel Ratna Award, while the Odisha government has nominated ace sprinter Dutee Chand. The Odisha government also made five other recommendations to the Sports Ministry, in addition to Dutee.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 2020 was given to five people, including Rohit Sharma. He was the fourth cricketer to receive the award last year, behind Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli.