CNN-News18 announced the winners of the Indian of the Year 2025 awards, recognizing outstanding achievements across diverse fields under the theme ‘India’s Invincible Icons.’ Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his transformative contributions to Indian cricket, including introducing pay parity for women players and launching the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup-winning team, was named Champion of the World, acknowledging her leadership in India’s global cricket success.
Other notable recipients included Baba Kalyani, Chairman of Bharat Forge Limited, honoured with the Business Award, and Suruchi Phogat, who won the Rising Sports Star Award following her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold medal. The Blind Women’s Cricket Team, led by Deepika TC, got the Special Inspiring Champions Award after winning the inaugural T20 World Cup for the Blind.
The Youth Icon Award went to Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K, who completed a historic circumnavigation aboard INSV Tarini. The Braveheart Indians Award was bestowed upon Rauf Wani and Sajjad Ahmad Bhat for their courage during the Pahalgam terror attack. Other awards included the Influencer of the Year for nutrition educator Revant Himatsingka and the Climate Warrior Award for Aditya Mukarji’s plastic reduction efforts.
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The ceremony, held on November 28, brought together visionaries and changemakers embodying India’s progress and resilience. Jay Shah dedicated his award to India’s women’s cricket team and highlighted milestones achieved during his tenure, including a landmark ₹50,000 crore media rights deal. Harmanpreet expressed gratitude for the support that empowered the team’s historic World Cup victory.
This prestigious annual event celebrates individuals whose perseverance and achievements inspire the nation across industries, sports, environment, and social causes, continuing a legacy honored by luminaries such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Virat Kohli, and Mary Kom. The 2025 awards reaffirm the spirit of India rising on global stages with courage and innovation.
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