The Congress today welcomed the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to nominate former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Padma Bhushan award, saying he was a "deserving player".
Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said Dhoni's contribution to Indian cricket was "incomparable" and he had created a plethora of cricket records.
"He is a very deserving player to get the Padma Bhushan Award. His contribution to Indian cricket is immense," he said.
Shukla said Dhoni still had a lot of cricket left in him as he was physically fit.
"He is still a match winning player. So, I feel the recommendation is justified and appropriate and he also deserves to be given the Padma Bhushan Award," he said.
The Indian cricket board today nominated Dhoni for the country's third highest civilian award for his contribution to the game.
A senior BCCI official confirmed that the Board has only sent one name for the Padma awards this year and it was a unanimous decision to nominate India's most successful captain.
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