New Delhi, Oct 31: Virat Kohli has been chosen for the Polly Umrigar award for being India's top international cricketer in 2011-12.
Kohli will be honoured with a trophy and cheque of Rs.5 lakh at the Annual BCCI Awards Ceremony in Mumbai Nov 21. The previous winners of the award are Sachin Tendulkar (2006-07 and 2009-10), Virender Sehwag (2007-08), Gautam Gambhir (2008-09) and Rahul Dravid (2010-11).
India's top performers in international and domestic cricket from Oct 1, 2011 to Sep 30, 2012 will be feted at the ceremony.
V.V.S. Laxman, who announced his retirement earlier in the year, will also be felicitated. Tendulkar will be honoured for completing a century of international centuries.
Another feature of the ceremony will be the posthumous felicitation of seven legends of Indian cricket. They are Vijay Merchant, Vijay Manjrekar, Dattu Phadkar, Vinoo Mankad, Ghulam Ahmed, M.L. Jaisimha and Dilip Sardesai. The next-of-kin of each of these individuals will receive a trophy and cheque for Rs.15 lakh.
The Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to former captain Sunil Gavaskar. The award comprises a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs.25 lakh.