Ravichandran Ashwin - one of India's finest cricketers - has added another feather to his cap as on April 28, he was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award - India's fourth-highest civilian award - by honourable President Droupadi Murmu at a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Ashwin’s award recognises not just his achievements on the cricket field but also his contribution to Indian sport as a whole. Announced as a Padma Shri recipient on the eve of Republic Day earlier this year, Ashwin joined a distinguished list of athletes honoured for their service to the country.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and several other dignitaries were present to witness the occasion. The ceremony was broadcast live where Ashwin could be seen paying his respects before accepting the award from the President.
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Ravichandran Ashwin conferred with Padma Shri award
Ashwin became the first cricketer to be awarded the Padma Shri since 2020, when Zaheer Khan received the honour. He now joins an elite list of cricketers that includes legends like Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Mithali Raj.
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Shri in the field of Sports to Shri Ravichandran Ashwin. He is among the best Indian cricketers. He has been honoured with many awards and recognitions including Arjuna award and ICC Cricketer of the Year. pic.twitter.com/NiNYAQaiob
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 28, 2025
Congratulations to @ashwinravi99 on being conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Hon'ble President of India @rashtrapatibhvn, honouring his remarkable achievements and an illustrious career with #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/8HlYQx3Dsl
— BCCI (@BCCI) April 28, 2025
Along with Ashwin, several other sportspersons were recognised at the ceremony. Two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his outstanding contribution to Indian hockey.
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The CSK spinner's international career spanned nearly 15 years. He played for India in 287 matches across formats. He retired from international cricket in December 2024 after the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
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He finished as India's second-highest wicket-taker with 765 wickets. He also has six Test centuries to his name which is a rare achievement for a spinner.
Even after his international retirement, Ashwin has been active in domestic cricket and in the IPL. He is playing for the Chennai Super Kings currently - a franchise where he first made his name in 2010 before becoming a mainstay in the Indian national team.