Former India captain MS Dhoni was on Thursday conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award. Multiple billiards world champion Pankaj Advani was also chosen for the award on the eve of the country’s Republic Day.
Dhoni has been the recipient of many awards, including the ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2008 and 2009 (the first player to win the award twice), the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2007 and the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour in 2009.
Most successful captain in the history of Indian cricket, Dhoni led India to two World Cup triumphs — in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 held in South Africa in September 2007 and the 2011 ICC ODI World Cup. India also won ICC Champions Trophy under him. It was under his captaincy that India climbed to No. 1 in the ICC Test Rankings in December 2009.
