Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be the first to receive 'Sai Ratna' award instituted by the famous Saibaba temple trust at Shirdi in Maharashtra.
"Members of the Sai Sansthan met today and it was unanimously decided to confer the Sai Ratna award on Sachin," chairman of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust Jayant Sasane said.
The award is likely to be given to Sachin after the IPL tournament, he said.
Sasane declined to elaborate on the award, such as its cash component. "We want to recognise achievement, and Sachin's name came to our mind first," he said.
India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the World Cup final in Mumbai on Saturday night to lift the coveted trophy which they last won in 1983 under Kapil Dev.
Tendulkar, however, missed out on his 100th international century.