AIGF Wants Bharat Ratna For Virat Kohli, Writes To Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), on Monday , wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the country’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna for India skipper Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli turned 30 on Monday. As expected, wishes poured in from all corners as fans and cricketers from across the globe wished the cricket superstar. However, the AIGF went the extra mile and wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to bestow Kohli with the prestigious Bharat Ratna.

But while a Bharat Ratna for Kohli at this moment might not become a reality, there is absolutely no denying that he is well on his way to become one of the greatest-ever players to have graced the game. Recently turned 30,  Kohli is already the second leading centurion in One-Day Internationals. The right-handed batsman has slammed 38 centuries in just 208 innings.Not surprisingly, he is the fastest to achieve the milestone.

In the recently-concluded ODIs against Windies, he reached his 10,000 ODI runs. In doing so, he became the fastest to achieve the milestone, thus breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record. He crossed the mark during his unbeaten 157 in the tied match in Visakhapatnam. It was his 205th innings and 213th ODI. On the other hand, Sachin had breached the mark in his 259th innings and 266th match. Kohli had also scored three centuries on the trot in the series.

In Tests, he has scored 24 centuries and 19 fifties. He averages over 54 in Tests and more than 59 in ODIs. In T20Is, he averages nearly 50.

And AIGF believes Kohli has done enough to receive the prestigious Bharat Ratna.

“Cricket is one of the most loved sports in the country and Virat Kohli has captivated the hearts & minds of billions with his scintillating performances over the past years. AIGF strongly believes that it is only befitting that his efforts in enhancing India’s stature & image in the global sporting arena are adequately recognized by bestowing the honour of Bharat Ratna,” the letter read.

“Honouring Kohli with India’s highest civilian award will mean awarding talent, merit and hard work,” it said.

So far, Sachin Tendulkar is the only sports personality till date who has been bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honour. On the other hand, Kohli has been awarded the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri as well as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.