New Delhi: On the occasion of Virat Kohli's 30th birthday, in a surprising turn of events, the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to confer the highest civilian honour – Bharat Ratna on the India captain.

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Kohli has scored over 18,500 international runs across three formats of the game at an average of above 50 in Tests and ODIs.

Recently, the Delhi right-hander became the fastest batsman in the world to reach 10,000 runs in ODIs.

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Also read— As Virat Kohli turns 30, here's a look at 30 records that have fallen to his onslaught

Kohli is the owner of numbers batting records and is likely to achieve more milestones.

Impressed with his on-field exploits, AIGF has urged Modi to bestow him with Bharat Ratna.

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“Cricket is one of the most loved sports in the country and Virat Kohli has captivated the hearts & minds of billions with his scintillating performances over the past years. AIGF strongly believes that it is only befitting that his efforts in enhancing India’s stature & image in the global sporting arena are adequately recognized by bestowing the honour of Bharat Ratna,” the letter from AIGF read, according to reports.

Also watch— Virat Kohli turns 30: Indian captain's incredible journey from chubby boy to super fit athlete

“Honoring Kohli with India’s highest civilian award will mean awarding talent, merit and hard work,” it said.

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Till date, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar is the only sportsperson who has had the honour of receiving the Bharat Ratna. He was conferred with the award in 2013, soon after retiring from international cricket.