Rohit Sharma nominated for Khel Ratna award by BCCI; Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma and Deepti Sharma for Arjuna award

Rohit Sharma nominated for Khel Ratna award: The Indian limited-overs vice-captain has been nominated for the highest sporting award.

In men’s opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, fast bowler Ishant Sharma and women’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) have nominated as many as three cricketers for this year’s Arjuna Award.

It is worth mentioning that the Government of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had sought invitations for the respective awards. Athletes’ performance from the period beginning from 1st January 2016 and ending on 31st December 2019 were to be considered for this year’s awards.

In the 64 ODIs that Dhawan has played in the given time period, the southpaw has scored 2,727 runs at an average of 46.22 and a strike rate of 99.34 including nine centuries and 12 half-centuries. In 50 T20Is, Dhawan has scored 1,389 runs at an average of 30.19 and a strike rate of 130.79 including nine half-centuries.

Ishant Sharma, a Test match specialist, has picked 91 wickets in 28 Test matches at an average of 23.37 and an economy rate of 2.77 in the same period. The 31-year old player is the highest wicket-taker among Indian fast bowlers in this period.

Deepti Sharma’s 1,350 runs and 59 wickets in 50 ODIs make her the third-highest run-scorer and second-highest wicket-taker among Indian players in the aforementioned period. In 38 T20Is, the 22-year old player has done exceedingly well to dismiss 42 batters at an average of 18.07, an economy rate of 5.72 and a strike rate of 18.9.

Rohit Sharma nominated for Khel Ratna award

Having scored 4,377 runs in 78 ODIs in this period including a praiseworthy 20 centuries and 16 half-centuries, Sharma is the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs and is only behind India captain Virat Kohli (4,778).

In 60 T20Is, Sharma’s 1,766 runs at an average of 31.53 and a strike rate of 143.69 put him atop players with most runs in the format.

Considering Sharma’s phenomenal run (648 runs in nine ODIs at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 98.33) in last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in England, it is all the more justified and fitting to nominate him for country’s top sports award.