Top 10 Cricketers who received Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree Award 

 In this article, we have mentioned the top 10 cricketers who received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree award as an achievement.  

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10. Gautam Gambhir

In December 2018, Gambhir retired from cricket, marking the end of his career in all formats of the game. This former Indian opener participated in 58 Test matches, 147 ODIs, and 37 T20s for his country. Additionally, Gambhir was the top run-scorer in the finals, contributing to India’s victories in the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup. Additionally, Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer, was honored with a Padma Award by President Ram Nath Kovind, joining a group of eight esteemed sports personalities.

9. Vinoo Mankad

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Vinoo Mankad, whose full name was Mulvantrai Himmatlal Mankad, was a highly accomplished all-round athlete in cricket. In 1973, he received the third-highest civilian award for his significant contributions to the Indian cricket team. Notably, from 1968 to 1979, he held the unique distinction of being the sole athlete to be bestowed with this prestigious honor.

8. Virat Kohli

In the last few years, Kohli has been in exceptional form, consistently scoring runs in various formats. In 2016, he achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 1215 runs in Test cricket, becoming the first individual to record double centuries in four consecutive series. As a 28-year-old, he had a successful season as the captain of the Indian team, winning all four Test series played at home. His outstanding performance earned him the Padma Shri award in 2017.

7. Chandu Borde

Borde’s international career spanned from 1958 to 1969, during which he twice led the selection committee. He played a total of 55 test matches, maintaining an average score of 35.59. His memoir is titled “Panther’s Paces,” and he was a part of the Bombay and Baroda domestic cricket teams. In 1969 he was awarded the Padma Shri award and again in 2002, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan award. 

6. Sunil Gavaskar

In 1980, Sunil Gavaskar, who was the first cricketer to achieve 10,000 runs in Test matches, received the Padma Bhushan award in recognition of his illustrious international career with the Indian cricket team. He played a pivotal role in shaping Indian cricket and contributed to numerous victories for India.

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5. DB Deodhar

While he didn’t take part in any international cricket matches, he was a proficient administrator who held roles as the BCCI vice president and president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association. He was also involved in player selection for the national team. Notably, he was the first cricketer from India to achieve this milestone, and he lived for over a century, which is a lesser-known fact. In 1965, he was awarded the Padma Shri award and also received the Padma Bhushan award in 1991.

4. Kapil Dev

Following his Padma Shri recognition in 1982, he assumed the captaincy of the victorious 1983 World Cup Indian cricket team. The movie, “83,” is in the works to depict his journey to winning the World Cup. It’s worth noting that he has authored four books, including one on Sikhi. Post-retirement, he took up golf as a leisure activity. He hails from Chandigarh.

3. Rahul Dravid

Revered as “The Wall,” he is regarded as one of the finest Test cricket batsmen India has ever produced. Notably, he has received both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards. His international cricket career includes an impressive tally of over 24,000 runs, and he holds a remarkable Test batting average of 52.31. One of the most notable incidents during his captaincy involved declaring an innings while Sachin Tendulkar was on the verge of achieving a double century.

2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

He received the honor relatively late in his career, even though he had previously been awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna a decade earlier. The movie “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story,” featuring Sushant Singh Rajput in his role, provided insights into his life for a wider audience. Even after retirement, he continues to be a part of the IPL and enjoys a significant following among Indian cricket enthusiasts. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is celebrated for his modesty, and many still regard him as their captain. In 2009, he was awarded the Padma Shri award and in 2018, he was honored by the Padma Bhushan award. 

1. Lala Amarnath

His cricket career spanned from 1933 to 1955, during which his sons, Mohinder and Surinder Amarnath, represented other nation. Amarnath own international career was limited to 24 test matches, mainly due to the outbreak of World War 2 shortly after his debut in 1939, which caused him to miss nearly six crucial years of his prime. Much like numerous others, his family was compelled to relocate due to the partition. In 1991, he received the Padma Bhushan award.