Ajinkya Rahane honoured with Arjuna Award; Virat Kohli’s coach Raj Kumar Sharma bestowed with Dronacharya

Rahane honoured with Arjuna Award; Kohli's coach Raj Kumar Sharma bestowed with Dronacharya

India vice-captain in Tests, Ajinkya Rahane is among the 15 sportspersons to be honoured with Arjuna Award. While Rahane is the only current cricketer to be bestowed with the prestigious award, Indian Test captain Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Raj Kumar Sharma will be given the Dronacharya Award. Among the current Indian cricketers, Rohit Sharma (2015), Ravichandran Ashwin (2014) and Kohli (2013) have won the Arjuna Award in the recent past. Rahane, who made his Test debut for India in 2013, has established himself as one of the pillars in the Indian Test side, and was awarded the team’s vice-captaincy ahead of their tour of West Indies. ALSO READ: Ajinkya Rahane – Reliving his world record 8 catches in a Test

The Arjuna Awards are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Indian government every year in order to acknowledge the special achievement in the field of sports. The honour also includes a cash prize of Rs 5,00,000, along with a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll.

The Dronacharya Award is presented for outstanding work in the field of coaching, and Raj Kumar Sharma is a deserving candidate for having unearthed a cricketer like Kohli, who is already a legend-in-making at the age of 27. The 51-year-old Raj Kumar Sharma played 9 First-Class matches.

Rahane has so far played 25 Tests, 67 ODIs and 18 T20Is for India. The right-handed batsman who generally occupies a place lower down in the Indian batting line-up has been one of their best batsmen overseas. Out of his 7 Test centuries, 5 have been struck overseas in countries like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka.