MS Dhoni To Be Conferred Padma Bhushan

Former India skipper MS Dhoni and snooker star Pankaj Advani are among the 85 personalities named for the 2018 Padma Awards by the Home Ministry. The nominated personalities will receive the prestigious award on Republic Day, January 26, 2018.

The most decorated skipper in the history of the Indian cricket, Dhoni is the first and only captain to lift all the three ICC trophies, the ICC World T20 in 2007, the ICC World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. In his very maiden captaincy assignment, he led the Indian team to World T20 triumph back in 2007 and then won the ICC World Cup 2011 at home. Prior to that, he had India to number one ranking in Test cricket for the very first time in 2009.  Dhoni then led India to a successful campaign in ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Under Dhoni’s reign as captain, India won Test series in New Zealand, West Indies and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2008, 2010 and 2013. He brought down curtains on his Test career in 2014 and stepped down as limited-overs skipper last year.

MS Dhoni To Be Conferred Padma Bhushan
Dhoni led the team to 50-over World Cup in 2011 (Credits: AFP)

Dhoni’s contribution with the  bat and gloves is also immense. The 36-year old has scored over 15,000 runs in international cricket with the help of 16 centuries and 101 half-centuries. He is also the first and only wicketkeeper till date to affect 100 stumpings in One-Day Internationals.

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MS Dhoni To Be Conferred Padma Bhushan
Dhoni is the first and only wicketkeeper till date to reach the 100-stumping mark in ODIs (Credits: BCCI)

On the other hand,  Pankaj Advani is the only player to win world titles in both the long and short formats of snooker. He is also the first Indian to win the 6-red snooker world title.  Overall, Advani has won a total of 18 world titles.

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