In India, cricket is no less than religion. It is a mixture of passion, ability, and effort. Arjuna Award, started in 1961, is one of the prestigious awards in sports for its excellent contributions.
Many cricketers who have left an indelible mark on Indian Cricket have been awarded. These stories have their roots in toil and triumph. The Arjuna Award for Cricket is associated with importance in the cricketing world.
Through time, this award has been bestowed on numerous cricketers who have etched a valuable place for themselves in the lore of Indian cricket. Their tales inspire the levels that can be attained by will and patience.
In this article, we examine the journey of these exceptional players, their on-field and off-the-field success, and how what has defined them will eventually become a part of their legacy for generations to come.
What is an Arjuna Award?
In 1961, the Government of India first established this award, and it was named after the great Indian warrior Arjuna, who is a character from Mahabharata. Arjuna Award is given when anyone happens to show a remarkable sports performance.
It is the second-highest sporting award after Rajiv Khel Ratna. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government Of India, gives it annually to players from different sports categories.
The Maiden Arjuna Awards for Cricket Winners – Salim Durani
Indian cricketer — Salim Durani was the First Arjuna awardee in 1961. A big hitter and a left-arm spinner, he was an enormously popular figure on the cricket field.
His heroics came during the 1961-62 series against England. He practically won two matches for India in very close encounters.
Salim’s performances on the field helped to ensure that he played 29 Test matches for India, scored 1,202 runs, and took 75 wickets.
His accomplishments provide the stage for future cricketers. He is genuinely one of the pioneers of Indian cricket.
Shantha Rangaswamy – Pioneering Frontier
Shantha Rangaswamy in 1976, won this as first women cricketer in India. Shewoman took the burden of developing women’s cricket in India and led Indians to their first Test win ever.
One of the most dominant features in Indian women cricket was Rangaswamy, who played 16 Test matches out of a combined count of 19 ODIs and then served the game for quite some time.
Gundappa Viswanath: Master Like For Slayer
One of the most incredible batters to play for India, Gundappa Viswanath, was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1977-78. His performance of 97* versus powerhouse West Indies is seen as the best non-century innings played over years.
His resistance to pressure and knack for scoring when it mattered sets him apart. Viswanath was featured in 91 test matches for India and scored 6080 runs, including 14 hundred.
The Stylish Leader – Mohammad Azharuddin
Arjuna Awardee (1986), Mohammad Azharuddin was the epitome of grace for batting and his razor-sharp leadership. He scored centuries in his first 3 Test matches – a record at the time.
He appeared a class apart with the bat thanks to his outrageous flair and stroke play, even if he has been somewhat controversial off it. Azharuddin’s style and ability to inspire the team in critical moments are unforgettable in cricket even today.
The Era of Modern Legends – From Sachin Tendulkar Onwards
Sachin Tendulkar (awarded in 1994) only plays test matches, and one day matches. He broke the record of scoring the most runs for a batter in both formats, which makes him one of the greatest players to have played cricket.
The 90s witnessed the advent of players who, after watching Tendulkar in his prime during their childhood, took Indian cricket forward.
Some other top players in this queue are Anil Kumble(Arjuna Award, 1995), Sourav Ganguly (1997), and Rahul Dravid (Arjuna Awardee, 1998).
Women Cricketers in the Spotlight
Women have also won the Arjuna Award and glorified the cricket field. Take the case of Mithali Raj, who got it in 2003. They are leading the country in such a big way and have set records while performing.
Some famous names in the list are Jhulan Goswami in 2010 and Harmanpreet Kaur in 2017. They fared well, and they transformed Indian women’s cricket.
Shikar Dhawan and the Cricket of New Era
Shikhar Dhawan (2021) has been a familiar face in the world of cricket who turns our lazy nerves on with his aggressive batting style. In Test, ODI and T20 cricket for India, he was one of the best batters with some excellent performances.
Known for his aggressive approach against bowlers right from the word get-go. Dhawan clinched second-fastest Indian to 5000 ODI runs – to showcase his reliability and elegance.
He is a flamboyant dasher with the bat, and his involvement on the field has always been appreciated, making him one of the most loved cricketers.
The New Charisma – Mohammed Shami
The Arjuna Award in 2023 went to Mohammed Shami. The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 saw Shami topping the wickets charts with tallies of 24 from his seven outings.
He was among the fastest bowlers in history to get those heavy barrels rolling. While swinging the ball at both ends with a speed that leaves some of the best batsmen begging for mercy.
Shami is not that one-dimensional pacer who relies on express pace, instead he has mastered the art of controlling and keeping things tight with his lines and lengths, frequently changing games in India’s favour by picking up crucial wickets.
Arjuna Awards for Cricket Winners – Complete List
With time, so many Arjuna Award winners, including some of the top Indian cricketers, have taken a bow. The list includes players from men’s and women’s cricket across several formats.
That proves India’s rich, cricketing history and some ridiculous talent to have graced this nation. Here is the list of cricketers below:-
Male Cricketers
| Year | Cricketer(s) |
| 1961 | Salim Durani |
| 1964 | Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi |
| 1965 | Vijay Manjrekar |
| 1966 | Chandu Borde |
| 1967 | Ajit Wadekar |
| 1968 | E. A. S. Prasanna |
| 1969 | Bishan Singh Bedi |
| 1970 | Dilip Sardesai |
| 1971 | Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan |
| 1972 | B. S. Chandrashekhar, Eknath Solkar |
| 1975 | Sunil Gavaskar |
| 1977-78 | Gundappa Viswanath |
| 1979-1980 | Kapil Dev |
| 1980-81 | Chetan Chauhan, Syed Kirmani |
| 1981 | Dilip Vengsarkar |
| 1982 | Mohinder Amarnath |
| 1984 | Ravi Shastri |
| 1986 | Mohammad Azharuddin |
| 1989 | Madan Lal |
| 1993 | Kiran More, Manoj Prabhakar |
| 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 | Harbhajan Singh |
| 2009 | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2011 | Zaheer Khan |
| 2012 | Yuvraj Singh |
| 2013 | Virat Kohli |
| 2014 | Ravichandran Ashwin |
| 2015 | Rohit Sharma |
| 2016 | Ajinkya Rahane |
| 2017 | Cheteshwar Pujara |
| 2019 | Ravindra Jadeja |
| 2020 | Ishant Sharma |
| 2021 | Shikhar Dhawan |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami |
Female Cricketers
| Year | Cricketer(s) |
| 1976 | Shantha Rangaswamy |
| 1983 | Diana Edulji |
| 1985 | Shubhangi Kulkarni |
| 1986 | Sandhya Agarwal |
| 2003 | Mithali Raj |
| 2005 | Anju Jain |
| 2006 | Anjum Chopra |
| 2010 | Jhulan Goswami |
| 2017 | Harmanpreet Kaur |
| 2018 | Smriti Mandhana |
| 2019 | Poonam Yadav |
| 2020 | Deepti Sharma |
Conclusion: Celebrating the Legacy of Arjuna Awards for Cricket Winners
Stands in the name of 58 cricketers to date, including Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh, sportspersons who have received Arjuna Award. They’re all great servants of Indian cricket.
The players who have achieved personnel fest for themselves have also contributed to Indian cricket’s success and helped get recognized globally.
Arjuna Award winners in cricket are more than just incredible cricketers. They are the epitomes of dedication, perseverance and love. Each of the winners, from Salim Durani to Mohammed Shami has built their part in the history of Indian cricket.
Being named to this list validates their dedication, talent, and service to the game. As the years go by, this list is only expected to expand, with newer stars being birthed now and then because of all that rich history.
