A total of 40 Indian cricketers have been honoured with the Padma Shri award.
The Padma Shri stands as India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, coming after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan. This prestigious award is given to individuals for their distinguished contributions across a wide range of fields such as arts, education, literature, science, industry, acting, medicine, social service, and public affairs.
Instituted on 2 January 1954, the Padma Shri award is presented every year by the Government of India on the occasion of Republic Day (26th January). It celebrates the efforts and achievements of individuals who have made a significant impact on society and the nation through their exceptional work.
In the world of cricket, the Padma Shri has been a mark of recognition for outstanding Indian cricketers who have contributed immensely to the sport and brought glory to the country. The latest name to be added to this elite list is former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin received the honour in 2025, just a few weeks after he announced his retirement from international cricket. Known for his match-winning performances and innovative bowling, Ashwin’s inclusion highlights the importance of cricket in India’s sporting culture.
Padma Shri Award the history of cricketers receiving the Padma Shri dates back to 1960 when Vijay Hazare, one of India’s early cricketing legends and former captain, became the first cricketer to be conferred with this honour. Padma Shri Award Hazare’s remarkable career and leadership during the formative years of Indian cricket made him a deserving recipient.
Over the decades, many cricketing stalwarts have followed in his footsteps. In total, 40 cricketers — 37 men and 3 women have been recognised with the Padma Shri. This distinguished list includes iconic names like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Mithali Raj, and Virat Kohli, among others. Each of these players has left an indelible mark on Indian and world cricket through their extraordinary performances and leadership.
Women’s cricket has also found its place in this honour roll, Padma Shri Award with pioneers like Diana Edulji, Jhulan Goswami, and Mithali Raj receiving the Padma Shri for their contributions to the growth and success of women’s cricket in India.
Padma Shri award with every addition to the list, the Padma Shri continues to celebrate the legacy of Indian cricket and honours the individuals whose achievements have inspired millions across the nation.
Let’s now take a look at the complete list of Indian cricketers who have been awarded the Padma Shri.
full list of Indian cricketers who have received the Padma Shri award
| No. | Cricketer | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vijay Hazare | 1960 |
| 2 | Jasu Patel | 1960 |
| 3 | Nari Contractor | 1962 |
| 4 | Polly Umrigar | 1962 |
| 5 | Syed Mushtaq Ali | 1963 |
| 6 | M.J. Gopalan | 1964 |
| 7 | D.B. Deodhar | 1965 |
| 8 | Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi | 1967 |
| 9 | Chandu Borde | 1969 |
| 10 | Bishan Singh Bedi | 1970 |
| 11 | E.A.S. Prasanna | 1970 |
| 12 | Gundappa Vishwanath | 1971 |
| 13 | B.S. Chandrasekhar | 1972 |
| 14 | Ajit Wadekar | 1972 |
| 15 | Farokh Engineer | 1973 |
| 16 | Pankaj Roy | 1975 |
| 17 | Syed Kirmani | 1982 |
| 18 | Kapil Dev | 1982 |
| 19 | Chuni Goswami | 1984 |
| 20 | Mohammad Shahid | 1986 |
| 21 | Dilip Vengsarkar | 1987 |
| 22 | Mohammad Azharuddin | 1988 |
| 23 | Sachin Tendulkar | 1999 |
| 24 | Diana Edulji | 2002 |
| 25 | Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 2003 |
| 26 | Rahul Dravid | 2004 |
| 27 | Sourav Ganguly | 2004 |
| 28 | Anil Kumble | 2005 |
| 29 | MS Dhoni | 2009 |
| 30 | Harbhajan Singh | 2009 |
| 31 | Virender Sehwag | 2010 |
| 32 | VVS Laxman | 2011 |
| 33 | Jhulan Goswami | 2012 |
| 34 | Yuvraj Singh | 2014 |
| 35 | Mithali Raj | 2015 |
| 36 | Virat Kohli | 2017 |
| 37 | Gautam Gambhir | 2019 |
| 38 | Zaheer Khan | 2020 |
| 39 | Gurcharan Singh | 2023 |
| 40 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 2025 |