India's One-Day and Twenty20 cricket captain MS Dhoni will be awarded the country's highest sporting honour — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
A committee chaired by former sprinter Milkha Singh on Monday met to discuss the nominees and they decided to confer the award on Dhoni for leading India to the Twenty20 World Cup triumph, which was followed by a tri-series victory in Australia.
Sources in the Sports Ministry, however, informed that an official announcement would follow only after August 20. Dhoni becomes only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to be given the honour. Tendulkar won the award in 1997-98.
There had been speculation that the BCCI hadn't sent Dhoni's form in time but that issue was resolved. But BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty hailed the decision. "On two occasions, we felt let down when Rahul Dravid didn't get Khel Ratna and Yuvraj (Singh) was denied Arjuna. Dravid was in good form, we had won 16 ODIs on the trot and the team was on a high. But he did not get the award.
"Yuvraj too was unlucky not to get Arjuna after two years of consistent performances. We are happy Dhoni got it," he told Times Now. Twenty-seven-year-old Dhoni took over as India's One-day captain after Rahul Dravid resigned in 2007. Shetty said what impressed him most about Dhoni was the way he conducted himself.
"What I like most about Mahi, apart from his cricket, is the way he leads. He is a cool customer and never gets agitated. I'm also impressed by his clarity of thought. He speaks his mind even if it may not be seen in the right sense," he added. BCCI chief Sharad Pawar said Dhoni was a role model and deserved to win the prestigious award.
"We are very happy. He has represented the country with distinction, and deserves the honour. His exemplary leadership and demeanour under pressure, especially in the ICC World Twenty20 and the tri-series in Australia, mark him out as the ideal role-model for millions of young Indians, who want to make a mark in life," said Pawar.
Among other prominent sportspersons to have won the honour are Vishwanathan Anand (chess), Leander Paes (tennis), Geet Sethi (billiards), Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (shooting) and Dhanraj Pillay (hockey).
