Complete List of Indian Cricketers Honoured with the Padma Shri Award
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 Sign Up Fast For E2bet And Enjoy A Free Bonus On Your First Registration