Arjuna Award for Cricket Winners
The Arjuna Award for Cricket is a prestigious honor given by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievements in Indian cricket. It was introduced in 1961, along with other sports, to encourage excellence and dedication in the game. The Arjuna Award remains a symbol of excellence in Indian sports, celebrating the dedication and achievements of some of India’s greatest cricketers.
First Cricketer to Win the Arjuna Award:
- Salim Durani (1961) – He was the first cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award. Known for his all-round abilities, Durani was a left-handed batsman and a left-arm spinner who played a crucial role in Indian cricket during the 1960s and 1970s.
Notable Arjuna Award Winners in Cricket:
Here are some of the most famous Indian cricketers who have received the Arjuna Award over the years:
1960s–1980s:
- Eknath Solkar (1972) – Brilliant fielder and all-rounder.
- Sunil Gavaskar (1975) – One of India’s greatest Test batsmen.
- Kapil Dev (1979) – Led India to its first Cricket World Cup victory in 1983.
1990s–2000s:
- Sachin Tendulkar (1994) – Cricketing legend, regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in history.
- Rahul Dravid (1998) – Known as “The Wall” for his solid batting technique.
- Sourav Ganguly (1997) – Former Indian captain and aggressive batsman.
- Anil Kumble (1995) – India’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
- Virender Sehwag (2002) – One of India’s most explosive opening batsmen.
- MS Dhoni (2007) – India’s most successful captain, leading the team to T20 World Cup (2007) and ODI World Cup (2011) victories.
2010s–Present:
- Virat Kohli (2013) – One of the finest modern-day cricketers, known for his aggressive batting and leadership.
- Rohit Sharma (2015) – Record-breaking batsman, known for his multiple double centuries in ODIs.
- Ravichandran Ashwin (2014) – One of India’s leading spinners in Test and ODI cricket.
- Smriti Mandhana (2018) – One of India’s top female cricketers and opening batters.
- Deepti Sharma (2020) – Key all-rounder in the Indian women’s cricket team.
- Jasprit Bumrah (2021) – One of the world’s top fast bowlers.
- Shreyas Iyer (2023) – Talented middle-order batsman.
Significance of the Arjuna Award in Cricket:
- The Arjuna Award is a recognition of a player’s exceptional contribution to Indian cricket.
- Both men and women cricketers have received this prestigious honor.
- The award has inspired many young cricketers to excel at the highest level.