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India has produced many sports stars who have made the country proud on the global stage. Some of the famous sports persons of India like Virat Kohli in cricket or P.V. Sindhu in badminton are role models for students everywhere. Just like how we work hard to ace our exams, these athletes dedicate themselves to their sport, showing us the power of determination. Moreover, they inspire us to push past challenges and always give our best. Let’s learn more about the famous sports person of India and their achievements.
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Great Sports Personalities of India
If you like staying up-to-date with the sports industry, you are at the right place. In this section, you will read all about the famous sports personalities of India across different sports. Whether you like cricket, football, or tennis, this blog has got you covered. Let’s begin with these great personalities of India.
Famous Indian Cricket Players
India is home to several legendary cricket players such as MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Sachin Tendulkar. This sport united Indians as a religion with hundreds of cricket followers in every part of the country. Moreover, these great personalities of India have become a source of inspiration for the youth. Here is a list of famous Indian cricket players and their major achievements.
| Famous Indian Cricket Players | Date of Birth | Achievements |
| MS Dhoni | 7 July 1981 | Led India to victory in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. |
| Virat Kohli | 5 November 1988 | Player of the Tournament at the 2014, 2016, and 2023 World Cups. |
| Kapil Dev | 6 January 1959 | Hero of 83 World Cup. |
| Rohit Sharma | 30 April 1987 | Appointed as the captain of the Mumbai Indians in 2013 and led the team to 5 titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020). |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 24 April 1973 | The 1st cricketer to score 100 international centuries. |
| Rahul Dravid | 11 January 1973 | Popularly known as The Wall of Indian Cricket who got the Arjuna Award in 1998. |
| Sourav Ganguly | 8 July 1972 | The only cricketer who won 4 consecutive Man of the Match awards in ODIs. |
| Anil Kumble | 17 October 1970 | The highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 619 wickets. |
| Hardik Pandya | 11 October 1993 | He has received the Arjuna Award and the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year. |
| KL Rahul | 18 April 1992 | He is the only Indian to score a century on ODI debut. |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 6 December 1988 | In 2019, he became the quickest left-arm bowler to reach 200 Test wickets. |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 10 July 1949 | One of the greatest openers in cricket. |
| Virender Sehwag | 20 October 1978 | 3rd cricketer to hold the record for most runs in One Day with 284 runs. |
| Yuvraj Singh | 12 December 1981 | Holds the record for being the 6th cricketer to win the most Player of the Series Awards. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 17 September 1986 | ICC Cricketer of the Year (2016). |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 6 December 1993 | ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2024. |
| Sanju Samson | 11 November 1994 | The youngest wicketkeeper to score 2,000 runs in IPL. |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 5 December 1985 | Consistent opening batsman for India. |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 14 September 1990 | The leading run-scorer for the Mumbai Indians in 2023. |
| Gautam Gambhir | 14 October 1981 | An important player in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup victory. |
Do Check Out:
- Fun Facts About Cricket- Let’s Gear Up for the IPL
- Test Your Cricket Knowledge: 100+ GK Questions Every Fan Should Know
- List of Common Cricket Terms | Govt Exams & AFCAT
- ICC Cricket World Cup Champions List from 1975 to 2023
Famous Indian Badminton Players
India has gained international recognition in badminton, thanks to its exceptional players such as Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, and Prakash Padukone. These players have taken the sport to new international heights and won several Olympic medals and World Championships. Here is a list of the famous Indian badminton players and their key achievements.
| Famous Indian Badminton Players | Date of Birth | Achievements |
| Saina Nehwal | 17 March 1990 | Olympic Bronze Medalist (2012), former World No. 1 |
| PV Sindhu | 5 July 1995 | Olympic Silver (2016) & Bronze (2020) Medalist, World Champion (2019) |
| Srikanth Kidambi | 7 February 1993 | Former World No. 1, World Championship Silver Medalist (2021) |
| Prakash Padukone | 10 June 1955 | First Indian to win All England Open (1980) |
| Pullela Gopichand | 16 November 1973 | 2nd Indian to win All England men’s singles badminton championship. |
| Parupalli Kashyap | 8 September 1986 | Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal (2010), Silver medal (2010) |
| Ashwini Ponnappa | 18 September 1989 | Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, Silver Medalist, and Bronze Medalist |
| Lakshya Sen | 16 August 2001 | Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist (2022), Silver Medalist at All England Open |
Do Check Out:
Famous Indian Chess Players
Indian chess players have made history by becoming the youngest grandmasters, being the youngest Indian to defeat Magnus Carlsen, and ultimately becoming the 18th Classical World Champion. These famous sportsman in India have made history like never before. Here is a list of the famous chess players of India and their major achievements.
| Famous Indian Chess Players | Age / Lifespan | Achievements |
| Koneru Humpy | 37 years (31 March 1987) | Women’s World Rapid Chess Champion (2019) |
| Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa | 19 years (10 August 2005) | Youngest Indian to defeat Magnus Carlsen, World Cup 2023 finalist |
| Pentala Harikrishna | 37 years (10 May 1986) | Multiple-time Olympiad medalist. |
| Vidit Gujrathi | 29 years (24 October 1994) | Winner of the under-14 world championship and 2019 Biel tournament. |
| Harika Dronavalli | 33 years (12 January 1991) | 3 time bronze medal winner in the Women’s World Chess Championship |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu | 22 years (21 June 2001) | Won the FIDE Grand Swiss in 2023. |
| Nihal Sarin | 20 years (13 July 2004) | 2 time Junior Speed Chess Champion in 2020 followed by 2021. |
| Krishnan Sasikiran | 43 years (7 January 1981) | Asian champion for blitz chess (2001) |
| Arjun Erigaisi | 21 years (3 September 2003) | Winner of Tata Steel India Rapid (2021) |
| Gukesh Dommaraju | 18 years (29 May 2006) | Youngest Indian Grandmaster and the youngest world chess champion |
| Tania Sachdev | 37 years (20 August 1986) | The under-12 Indian champion (1998) and Asian under-14 girls champion (2000) |
| Adhiban Baskaran | 31 years (15 August 1992) | Winner of the 2018 Reykjavik Open |
Do Check Out:
- Essay on Chess in 500 Words in English for School Students
- 15 Fun Facts About Chess
- Youngest Player to Reach the Chess World Cup Final
Famous Indian Hockey Players
Hockey is the national sport of India. It holds a special place in every Indian’s heart and soul. With legendary performances and victories, Indian hockey players continue to win Olympic medals and bring glory to the country. Here is a list of the famous Indian hockey players and their achievements.
| Name | Lifespan / Age | Achievements |
| Dhyan Chand | 1905–1979 | Known as “The Wizard,” won 3 Olympic Gold Medals (1928, 1932, 1936) |
| Dhanraj Pillay | 55 years (16 July 1968) | The only Indian to have played 4 Asian Games, 4 Olympic Games, 4 World Cups, 4 Champion Trophies |
| Mohammed Shahid | 1960–2016 | Olympic Gold Medalist (1980) |
| Harmanpreet Singh | 28 years (6 January 1995) | Won bronze medal as captain at the Paris 2024 Olympics |
| Shankar Lakshman | 1933–2006 | Olympic gold medal (1956) |
| Manpreet Singh | 32 years (26 June 1992) | Paris Olympic Bronze Medal (2024) |
| Leslie Claudius | 1927–2012 | 1 of only 2 Indians to win 4 Olympic medals in hockey. |
| Dilpreet Singh | 24 years (12 November 1999) | Olympic Bronze Medalist (2021) |
| Varun Kumar | 28 years (25 July 1995) | Represented Indian national team as a defender. |
| Roop Singh | 1910–1977 | 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist |
Do Check Out:
FAQs
The most famous sports person in India is Sachin Tendulkar. Known as the “Master Blaster,” he is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in history. His career achievements, including 100 international centuries, have made him a legendary figure in world cricket.
A famous sports person from India is Virat Kohli. A top cricketer, Virat is known for his aggressive batting style and consistency. Kohli has led India to numerous victories and is also regarded as one of the best batsmen in modern-day cricket.
Cricket is India’s number one sport. It enjoys immense popularity across the country, with millions of fans following both domestic and international matches. India’s success in cricket, including World Cup wins, has made it the top sport in the nation.
Mary Kom, an Olympic bronze medalist in boxing, is one of India’s most famous female sports persons. She has won several World Championship titles and has inspired many young girls to take up sports and aim for excellence.
Cricket is often referred to as the “king of sports” in India. With its massive fanbase, cricket dominates both the media and public discussions. Players like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have made the sport even more popular across the country.
The most followed sportsman in India is Virat Kohli. With millions of fans on social media platforms, his journey as a cricketer and personal life make him a global icon.
Interesting Reads
This blog was all about famous sports personalities of India and their achievements. If you are interested in reading blogs on similar topics, make sure to check out Famous Personalities category of Leverage Edu.
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