Mithali Raj became the first female cricketer to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
India captain Virat Kohli on Sunday (November 14) congratulated the Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya, and Adventure award winners. He posted a tweet with the group picture of the awardees on Twitter.
Kohli wrote that the excellence of the awardees will inspire the people of our country to pursue their passion in sports. He was also awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2018 after Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.
"A great moment of pride and congratulations to all the Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya, and Adventure award winners."
"Your excellence will inspire so many people to pursue their sporting passion," he wrote.
India's batter Shikhar Dhawan was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award, while Indian women cricket team's captain Mithali Raj got the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah had praised Mithali for becoming the first female cricketer to be honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Shah wrote that everyone is "proud" of the India Test and ODI skipper.
"The flagbearer of Indian Women’s Cricket @BCCIWomen has added another feather to her cap. Congratulations to @M_Raj03 for becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. We are proud of you," he tweeted.