Notable Arjuna Award Winners in Cricket as of 2024 in India

The Arjuna Award is one of the most honoured awards in the field of sports in India. It has an exceptional bias among sports enthusiasts. There are many Arjuna Award winners in cricket history. Salim Durani was the first cricketer to win this award in 1961. After that, many members of the cricket team have been honoured with this award for their best performances. It has remained relevant as one of the biggest achievements in the careers of most Indian athletes.

About Arjuna Awards

Arjuna award was established in 1961 for sportspeople who have excelled in the field of sports. There are a few honours that players love to have in their collection. It is well known that this honour is an acknowledgement of the effort they put in. The Arjuna Award prize money that has been provided to each winner today comprises ₹15 lakhs. The award acts as a great motivator that pushes athletes to keep working on themselves.

The Arjuna Award Winners 

Salim Durani (1961)

The Indian-born Salim Durani was the first Arjuna Award winner in cricket history. He was favoured by the public due to his ‘big hitting ability’ and his impressive left-arm spinning prowess. Additionally, he was key to India winning against England and the West Indies earlier in the 1960s. His hitting power in batting was a necessary component for the success of the Indian cricket team. Durani has also been a charismatic figure and a stunning performer on the field, contributing to Indian cricket. 

Sunil Gavaskar (1975) 

Gavaskar was a fine batsman and a deserving player to receive such honours. He was an opening batsman for team India in 1970s and 80s. He received the Arjuna Award in 1975. Everyone has a lot of regard for this great master. Sunil Gavaskar was the first man to cross over 10,000 runs in test cricket ever. He has set many records, and this is just one of them. In addition to his focus and capacity for lengthy partnerships, it was tough to send him to the pavillion. Gavaskar did more for Indian cricket than what his numbers will ever tell you. 

Kapil Dev (1979) 

Kapil Dev got the Arjuna Award in 1979. He was a useful asset and a good all-rounder for the Indian cricket team. Kapil was the Indian cricket team’s captain at the 1983 World Cup. Moreover, he led India to win that tournament against a tough West Indies cricket team. Additionally, the kind of leadership he offered to the team was quite constructive and useful. Kapil was a great batsman, a genius captain, and an equally good bowler. He absolutely deserves to be on this list of Arjuna Award winners in cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar (1994) 

Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, known as the ‘God of Cricket’, received the Arjuna Award in 1994. Within the international cricket framework, Sachin built countless records that still exist to this day. Among all the international players, he became the first to reach 100 international hundreds. Moreover, he was the first to score a record of 200 in a one-day international. A true legend who has inspired a lot of youngsters. He is a player who is praised by many international players as well.

Rahul Dravid (1998) 

Rahul Dravid received the Arjuna Award in 1998. He was a former Indian cricketer and one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He had achieved perfection in concentration and patience. Rahul became the guy, the Indian team could rely on, to bail them out from any tough situation. Another piece of evidence of how capable he is, is the fact that he played more balls than any other player in test cricket matches in cricket history. 

Sourav Ganguly (1998) 

Sourav Ganguly received the Arjuna Award in 1998. Just like Kapil Dev, he had also served as a captain. Ganguly played a key role and helped the Indian cricket team come out of the ‘ash’. He played as a left-handed batsman. Moreover, India tasted quite a few breathtaking successes under his leadership. 

MS Dhoni (2007) 

MS Dhoni was considered one of the most successful Indian cricket captains in 2014. He was aggressive while being under pressure on the field, particularly with the bat in his hands. He was a great captain and has been fabulous during his career. India has emerged as the winners of the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 World Cup, and the 2013 Trophy under his leadership. He has displayed excellent captaincy while interacting with his team members and other staff, resulting in his fame across the Indian cricket team. 

Virat Kohli (2013) 

India decided to award one such talent, and out of all the Arjuna Award winners of 2013, Virat Kohli was placed on the list of some of the top players in contemporary cricket. Kohli is an outright aggressive cricketer whose performance was exceptional, especially in batting. He is a cricketer who does exceedingly well trying to chase a set total. Some of the records that he set were 8000, 9000, and 10000 in ODI as early as possible. Kohli of India has ensured that so many successes are looked for by the team and has been credited with changing the fighting spirit of the team.

Conclusion

The Arjuna Award has honoured many of India’s cricketing talents over the years. Cricket has seen many legends after getting its first Arjuna Award in 1961 for the best all-rounder Salim Durani to dynamic cricketer Virat Kohli. The actual worth and importance of this honour can also be evidenced by the fact that the Arjuna Award has prize money of ₹15 lakhs. As for the years cricket stays on the move in India, the Arjuna Award cricketers will always remain in the hearts of the nation because of their performances towards the sport. 

The Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna is an award just as notable as the Arjuna Award. Read more about the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna, its history and significance in Indian sports.

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