Dhoni To Receive Khel Ratna Award

By Staff

Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 14:15

New Delhi : India's One-day and Twenty20 cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was today chosen for country's highest sporting honour the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

A committee, headed by Milkha Singh, met today to discuss the nominees and and finally shortlisted Dhoni's name for leading India to the Twenty20 World Cup win in South Africa last year.

Dhoni, who opted out of the current Indian tour of Sri Lanka, becomes only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to be given the honour.

Tendulkar was honoured with the prestigious award in 1997-98.

Besides leading India to a memorable win in the Twenty20 World Cup, Dhoni also led his team to victory in an ODI triangular series in Australia this year.

The 27-year-old took over as India's One-day captain after Rahul Dravid resigned in 2007.

An official announcement would be made but only after August 20.