Which Indian cricketer received the Polly Umrigar Award and became the first player to be honoured with this award on three separate occasions?

Introduction / Context:
The Polly Umrigar Award is one of the most prestigious honours given by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It recognizes the best international cricketer from India for outstanding performance over a season. Knowing which player has received this award multiple times, especially a record three times, is a key part of Indian cricket general knowledge and awards-based questions in exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The award in question is the Polly Umrigar Award for the best international cricketer of the year from India.
• The question asks for the first Indian player to win this award on three separate occasions.
• The options are Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Ravi Shastri.
• We assume familiarity with modern Indian cricket and BCCI award ceremonies.

Concept / Approach:
Virat Kohli dominated world cricket for several years with prolific batting performances across all formats. As a result, he has been honoured multiple times by the BCCI. Specifically, he became the first player to receive the Polly Umrigar Award three times, reflecting his consistency and impact at the international level. Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Ravi Shastri are legendary figures in their own right, but they did not achieve this particular record of three Polly Umrigar Awards.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the purpose of the Polly Umrigar Award – it is given annually by the BCCI to India's best international cricketer. Step 2: Remember that Virat Kohli, at the peak of his career, produced multiple high-scoring seasons that earned him repeated recognition. Step 3: Check award lists or recall news reports mentioning that Kohli received the Polly Umrigar Award for the third time, setting a record. Step 4: Consider that Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, although decorated with various honours, did not receive this specific award three times. Step 5: Note that Ravi Shastri belongs to an earlier era and is more associated with commentary and coaching roles than with modern BCCI awards. Step 6: Based on these facts, identify Virat Kohli as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reports from BCCI award functions and cricket news websites clearly mention that Virat Kohli became the first player to win the Polly Umrigar Award three times. These reports list the seasons in which he was honoured, typically highlighting his extraordinary batting form. No similar claim exists in reputable sources for Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, or Ravi Shastri regarding three such awards. Thus, cross-checking confirmed news items removes any doubt about the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sachin Tendulkar, while one of the greatest batsmen of all time, played much of his career before the Polly Umrigar Award era reached its current format and did not win it three times. MS Dhoni has been honoured in many ways, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma awards, but he is not recorded as a three-time Polly Umrigar Award winner. Ravi Shastri is a former all-rounder and coach whose playing days predate the award's modern prominence, so he also does not fit the description. Only Virat Kohli matches the record mentioned in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that Sachin Tendulkar must hold most batting-related records and hence guess his name automatically. Others may choose MS Dhoni due to his leadership achievements and popularity. The key is to focus specifically on the Polly Umrigar Award and its documented recipients. Ignoring the specifics of this particular award and relying solely on general fame can easily lead to the wrong answer.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Virat Kohli, who became the first Indian cricketer to receive the Polly Umrigar Award on three separate occasions.