The former captain and the current opening batter of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma, has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India on the announcement of the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour. The central government announced a list of 131 awards, which included the two World Cup-winning captains, including Harmanpreet Kaur. 

Rohit Sharma made history by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup for the second time in their history, where they beat South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The 38-year-old revealed how it had been a special moment for him and his family as he looked to continue winning matches for the blue brigade. 

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“Hello everyone!! I want to thank the Indian government from the bottom of my heart after receiving the Padma Shri award. This is a very special moment for my family. I also want to thank everyone who has played a significant role in my career. I will keep trying to win more matches and trophies for my country. Thanks. Jay Hind.” Rohit expressed in a video.

Rohit Sharma gives first reaction to winning Padma Shri award

Rohit led the Indian side to the final of the ODI World Cup 2024 and won the Champions Trophy 2025 before retiring from the shortest format after the event and Test cricket at the end of the 2024/25 Australia trip. He, however, has been trying to make his way into the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Watch the video here: 

पद्मश्री अवॉर्ड की घोषणा पर भारतीय क्रिकेटर रोहित शर्मा ने भारत सरकार का तहेदिल से धन्यवाद करते हुए इस पल को अपने और अपने परिवार के लिए बेहद खास बताया। साथ ही उन्होंने अपने करियर में आगे भी बेहतर प्रदर्शन करने और देश के लिए और अधिक मैच व ट्रॉफियां जीतने की अपनी प्रतिबद्धता दोहराई… pic.twitter.com/ekbJ0EGuNo

— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) February 3, 2026

The Nagpur-born has collected 4301 runs in 116 innings of the longest format at an average of 40.57 and a strike rate of 57 with the help of 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries at the best score of 212 runs. Meanwhile, in the shortest format, he bagged 4231 runs in 151 innings at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89, thanks to five centuries and 32 half-centuries.

He currently keeps his eyes on the ODI World Cup, having been an experienced member with 11577 runs in 274 innings at an average of 48.84, scoring 33 centuries and 61 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka. He will return for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026.

The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, honoring distinguished achievements in various fields, including sports. Numerous Indian cricketers will have been recognized for their remarkable achievements in the game of cricket over these years, with cricket being both the most awarded and most recognized sport in the award category due to cricket being a main part of Indian culture. As of April 2025, there are 40 cricketer recipients of the Padma Shri award, made up of 37 men and 3 women, which partly explains why there are more male cricketers on this list due to history. I hope to frame the discourse around the Padma Shri-awarded cricketers, with reasons for why these cricketers have achieved this prestigious recognition, and lastly their legacies as cricketers, with a table to list all the named recipients of the Padma Shri.

The Padma Shri has been awarded to cricketers since 1960. The first Indian cricketer to receive this award was Vijay Hazare. Cricketers are recognized not just for their competitive performances while advocating for and cultivating Indian cricket on and off the field or elevating the status of cricket in India and internationally. There is history and legacy in having led India to momentous victories and other career milestones. Cricketers have even broken world records or placed Indian cricket on the world stage in a developing cricketing nation. Interestingly, 24% of the awards in sports are awarded to cricketers, illustrating the significance of cricket in India.

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List of Cricketers Honored with Padma Shri

Below is a table of 22 explicitly named cricketers who have received the Padma Shri, based on available records up to 2025. While 40 cricketers have been honored, some names are not widely documented in public sources.

Cricketers honored with the Padma Shri embody excellence, perseverance, and national pride. Their achievements have shaped Indian cricket’s legacy, inspiring future generations to dream big and strive for greatness.

Ravichandran Ashwin has been honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India. He is one of the cricketers to receive this prestigious award. The announcement was made on Saturday, January 25, and Ashwin is among the 113 recipients of the Padma Shri this year.

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On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we extend our good wishes to Thiru @ashwinravi99 avl, India’s unparalleled cricketer, for having been conferred with the Padma Shri.

On behalf of all cricket enthusiasts from TN, we thank our beloved PM Thiru @narendramodi avl for commending our… pic.twitter.com/RdlIJd8LYU

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 25, 2025

The Padma Awards were presented on the evening of January 26. This year, a total of 139 awards were announced, categorized into three levels: Padma Vibhushan (7 recipients), Padma Bhushan (19 recipients), and Padma Shri (113 recipients). The Padma Vibhushan is the 2nd highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan is the 3rd highest, and the Padma Shri is the 4th highest in India.

The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award. So far, only one cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, has received it. He was given the award in 2014 and was the first sportsperson to get this honor.

Ravichandran Ashwin is receiving the Padma Shri, India’s 4th highest civilian award. With this, he becomes the 40th Indian cricketer to receive this honor. Earlier, in 2015, he was also awarded the Arjuna Award, a national sports award by the Government of India.

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Ravichandran Ashwin retired from all forms of cricket on December 18, 2024, after the 3rd Test in Brisbane. The match ended in a draw because of rain, which left little time for play and no result for India. After the match, Ashwin announced his retirement during a press conference with captain Rohit Sharma.

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ravichandran Ashwin played only one match, the 2nd Test in Adelaide, where he took 1 wicket. Before that, in a home series against New Zealand, he played three matches and took 9 wickets in 6 innings, one of his lowest wicket tallies in a home series, where he bowled more than 90 overs.

Ashwin is known for his consistent bowling throughout his career. In 44 Test series, he was named Player of the Series 11 times, highlighting his status as one of India's greatest match-winners, especially in Test cricket. With 537 Test wickets, he is India’s second-highest wicket-taker, behind Anil Kumble, who has 619 wickets. Globally, Ashwin ranks 8th on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.