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 Â
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 Â
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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