Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s name has been recommended for the nation’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, by the Maharashtra government.

"We felicitated both players from the state after the World Cup. From that time plans were on to recommend the name of the son of the soil, the son of Maharashtra for the Bharat Ratna for his outstanding achievements in cricket and for being a role model to the younger generation of this country," Chief Minister of the state Prithviraj Chavan was quoted as saying by Zeenews.com.

Chavan announced this in the state assembly on Wednesday. Tendulkar’s name for Bharat Ratna has been making rounds since India won the ICC World Cup in 2011 after 28 years. Previously, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla had suggested after Tendulkar scored his 100 international centuries, that its time the batsman should be honoured with Bharat Ratna. "There is a lot more cricket left in him. He should get the highest civilian award," Shukla said.