New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended its congratulations to Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been awarded the esteemed Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, by President Droupadi Murmu as part of the 2025 Padma award announcements.

This recognition, revealed on January 25, highlights Ashwin as the sole cricketer to receive this honor this year, emphasizing his significant contributions to cricket.

The BCCI shared their message on X, stating, "Congratulations to @ashwinravi99 on being conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Hon'ble President of India @rashtrapatibhvn, honoring his remarkable achievements and an illustrious career with Team India."

Ashwin's cricketing journey has been marked by consistency and brilliance, particularly excelling in Test matches. Renowned for his sharp cricketing intellect, he has been a formidable player in Test cricket, both as a bowler and a batsman. He announced his retirement from international cricket during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the third Test in Brisbane, which ended in a rain-affected draw, concluding a remarkable career that lasted over a decade.

His retirement came as a surprise to many fans. His final match was during India's home series against New Zealand in 2024, where he struggled to make a notable impact, marking one of his rare failures at home. Prior to that, his exclusion from the squad for the Perth Test in the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy raised questions about his future in the team.

Although Ashwin participated in the Adelaide Test, his limited involvement led to his decision to retire from international cricket.

Despite a somewhat subdued conclusion to his career, Ashwin's statistics speak volumes about his greatness. With 537 Test wickets at an impressive average of 24.00, he ranks as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test history, trailing only Anil Kumble.

His ability to take wickets in various conditions, especially during overseas tours, has established him as one of the most valuable bowlers in India's Test lineup. In addition to his bowling prowess, Ashwin has also made significant contributions with the bat, amassing 3,503 runs in Test cricket, which includes six centuries and 14 half-centuries.

Ashwin's cricketing acumen and adaptability, along with his match-winning performances, have been crucial to India's success in Test cricket. Notably, India maintained an unbeaten streak in home Test series from 2012 to 2024, a record only interrupted by New Zealand. Ashwin's consistency and leadership in the spin department were pivotal to the team's dominance both at home and abroad.

In the IPL, Ashwin has returned to his original franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. CSK acquired Ashwin for Rs 9.75 crore, bringing back a player who was integral to their success from 2009 to 2015.

Throughout his career, Ashwin has played for several teams, including the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings (where he also captained), Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.