The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nominated Sunil Gavaskar for the Dhyan Chand Award. The Dhyan Chand award is given in recognition for Life Time Achievement in Sports Games.

That took everyone by surprise as he is not eligible for the honor. The eligibility rule for nominations clearly states that “sportspersons who have already been conferred either with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna or Dronacharya Award will not be eligible to apply for Dhyan Chand Award.”

Gavaskar is a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan honors and also the CK Nayudu Life Time Award given by the BCCI. He had received the Arjuna Award in 1975.

Apart from Gavaskar, BCCI recommended Virat Kohli for Khel Ratna Awards and former India captain Rahul Dravid’s name has been sent for Dronacharya Award. 

Only two Indian cricketers have received Khel Ratna award- Sachin Tendulkar (1998) and MS Dhoni (2007).