Indian spin bowling icon Ravichandran Ashwin was awarded the distinction of receiving the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor. Ashwin was presented the award by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 28, in recognition of his contributions to the nation through sports.

Ashwin was revealed as one of the laureates of the esteemed award on the eve of Republic Day and attended the ceremony to receive the Padma Shri from President Murmu on Monday. Also present were Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, along with numerous other dignitaries. In a live broadcast of the ceremony, Ashwin is seen showing his respects before accepting the award from the president of India.

Ashwin represented India 287 times throughout a career that lasted nearly 15 years, before declaring his international retirement in December 2024. Ashwin concluded his career as India’s second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, with 765 wickets, along with six Test centuries to his credit. He ranks just behind some of the top bowlers in world cricket regarding wickets and is widely regarded as the foremost spin bowler of his era, as well as a contemporary great.

Ashwin retired as a modern-day legend of cricket

The Off-spinner became the first cricketer to be awarded the honour since 2020, when Zaheer Khan was honoured, and joins the list of players such as Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, and Mithali Raj.

Along with Ashwin, a number of other athletes were honoured at Rashtrapati Bhavan, including recently-retired two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions as goalkeeper for the men’s national hockey team.

Ashwin declared his retirement from international cricket following the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in December 2024, but stays active in competitive cricket, including the Indian Premier League. Ashwin is presently part of Chennai Super Kings, the franchise with which he gained national recognition in 2010, before becoming a pivotal member of India’s national team for the subsequent decade and beyond.

Read Also: Delhi Capitals Hunt for the Perfect Pitch Edge Against Kolkata Knight Riders

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!