Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday after he was honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
Virat Kohli was given the award during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
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Narendra Modi took to micro-blogging site Twitter to congratulate Virat Kohli and posted: “Dear @imVkohli, congratulations on being conferred the Khel Ratna. As a batsman and Captain, you have brought immense joy for the nation. Your popularity among young India is also tremendous. Best wishes for your future endeavours.”
Virat Kohli, who led Indian team in all the three formats of the game, was conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The 29-year-old Indian captain has now become the only third Indian cricketer, after Sachin Tendulkar (1997) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2007), to receive the prestigious award.
Smriti Mandhana was conferred the Arjuna award on the occasion.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) congratulated both Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana.
COA chairman Vinod Rai said in a statement, “We are extremely proud that Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana are being conferred with top honours by the Government of India. Virat is just the third Indian cricketer to receive the prestigious Khel Ratna award. This is a testimony to his work ethic, dedication and unwavering focus.”
Vinod Rai added, “He has led India with distinction and at the same time, set new records with the bat. Playing different formats of the game, Virat has shown amazing consistency leading the side by example. This Indian team is one of the fittest sides in world cricket and a lot of credit must go to the Indian captain for bringing about this transformation.”
