Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli Recommended for Padma Awards: Reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his deputy Virat Kohli for Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri respectively. (Also read: Government will try to bring BCCI under the RTI act: Sports minister)

According to reports, the BCCI made these recommendations to the Sports Ministry. (No place for Lalit Modi, BCCI forms panel to run Rajasthan cricket)

Indian skipper Dhoni has already been awarded the Padma Shri award in the past (2009). Despite the team's current struggles in England, the Indian side has excelled under Dhoni's astute captaincy. Winning two World Cups - ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 and ICC World Cup in 2011 -- and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, the Indian team has established themselves as one of the strongest sides in limited-overs  cricket in the last few years. (RCA threaten legal notice against BCCI)

Virat Kohli, who is going through one of the leanest patches of his career in England, has enjoyed a couple of exceptional years since making his debut in 2008. Kohli has scored 5,634 runs in 134 ODIs, including 19 centuries and is looking set to go on and become one of the best batsmen to play for the country. (India's defeat in three days against England helps feed homeless)