List of Indian Cricketers Who Won Arjuna Award (From 1961 to 2023)

The Arjuna Award is one of India’s highest honours, which recognises outstanding achievements of players in national sports. In cricket, it has been a symbol of excellence and dedication. Since 1961, many legendary cricketers, both men and women, have received this award. The award reflects their significant contribution to Indian cricket. The names of the recipients range from the magnificent Salim Durrani in 1961 to the skilled Mohammed Shami in 2023. Like them, there are many other honoured men and women who have brought glory to the game.

The award is for match-winning performances and long-term contribution to Indian cricket. Be it the golden era of the 1980s with Kapil Dev or the modern era with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Arjuna Award reflects every era of cricket.

Here is the latest list of the players who have won the Arjuna Award (1961 – 2023)

Year	Player(s)
1961	Salim Durani
1964	Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
1965	Vijay Manjrekar
1966	Chandu Borde
1967	Ajit Wadekar
1968	Erapalli Anantharo Srinivas
1970	Dilip Sardesai
1971	Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan
1972	Bhagat Subramanya Chandrashekhar, Eknath Solkar
1975	Sunil Gavaskar
1976	Shantha Rangaswamy
1977	Gundappa Viswanath
1979	Kapil Dev
1980	Chetan Chauhan, Syed Kirmani
1981	Dilip Vengsarkar
1982	Mohinder Amarnath
1983	Diana Edulji
1984	Ravi Shastri
1985	Shubhangi Kulkarni
1986	Sandhya Agarwal
1989	Madan Lal
1993	Manoj Prabhakar, Kiran More
1994	Sachin Tendulkar
1995	Anil Kumble
1996	Javagal Srinath
1997	Sourav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja
1998	Rahul Dravid, Nayan Mongia
2000	Venkatesh Prasad
2001	VVS Laxman
2002	Virender Sehwag
2003	Mithali Raj, Harbhajan Singh
2005	Anju Jain
2006	Anjum Chopra
2009	Gautam Gambhir
2010	Jhulan Goswami
2011	Zaheer Khan
2012	Yuvraj Singh
2013	Virat Kohli
2014	Ravichandran Ashwin
2015	Rohit Sharma
2016	Ajinkya Rahane
2017	Harmanpreet Kaur, Cheteshwar Pujara
2018	Smriti Mandhana
2019	Ravindra Jadeja, Poonam Yadav
2020	Deepti Sharma, Ishant Sharma
2021	Shikhar Dhawan
2023	Mohammad Shami

Related Post: List of Indian Cricketers Who Won Padma Bhushan Award

Evolution of Indian Cricket Through Arjuna Awardees

The list of Arjuna Awards in cricket also shows how the game has evolved over the decades. From the early days of Indian cricket to the era of the modern cricket format, the awardees reflect every major milestone. Each cricketer’s name represents a chapter in India’s cricketing story, making this honour not just personal but also historic.

Recognition of Women’s Cricket Achievements  

Another important aspect of these awards is the balance between men’s and women’s cricket. Over the years, women players have rightfully earned recognition for their outstanding performances. Legends like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Smriti Mandhana have ensured that Indian women’s cricket stands tall on the global stage. The players have showcased the growing importance of women’s cricket in India. Their achievements underscore the fact that these awards celebrate talent regardless of gender.

Conclusion  

In cricket, the Arjuna Award represents dedication, discipline and dominance on the field. Each recipient has played a significant role in shaping the legacy of Indian cricket. Be it unforgettable innings, magical spells or leadership. This timeline of cricketing excellence continues to inspire the next generation of Indian cricketers.

Similar Post: List of Indian Cricketers Who Won Padma Shri Award (2025)

FAQs: People Also Ask

Q1. What is the significance of the Arjuna Award in Indian cricket?

The Arjuna Award is India’s second highest sports award after the Khel Ratna. In cricket, it recognizes excellent sportsmanship and a player’s contribution to the game.

Q2. Who was the first cricketer to win the Arjuna Award?

Salim Durrani was the first Indian cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award in 1961. He was known for his charisma and ability to hit sixes on demand.

Q3. How many women cricketers have won the Arjuna Award?

Many women cricketers have also been honoured. Some of them are Shantha Rangaswamy, Diana Edulji, Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Jhulan Goswami etc.

Q4. Which modern Indian stars have received the Arjuna Award?

New Indian cricketers like Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have received this honor.

Q5. Who is the most recent Indian cricketer to win the Arjuna Award?

The latest Indian cricketer to win the Arjuna Award in 2023 is Mohammed Shami, who is known for his exceptional fast bowling skills.

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