Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday presented Padma Awards to 43 persons including cricket legend MS Dhoni in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

According to a release, the Padma Bhushan—the third highest civillian honour—was presented to five people—Dhoni, billiards champion Pankaj Advani, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin (posthumously), Indian artist Laxman Pai and folk singer Sharda Sinha while Padma Shri was awarded to 38 people.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were the Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Union Ministers.

The former India captain, who holds the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, wore his official uniform of the Territorial Army for the ceremony.

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. Considered as the country's most successful cricket captain, 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.

In the upcoming Indian Premier League season, the 36-year-old will lead Chennai Super Kings, who have won two titles in 2010 and 2011. The Dhoni-led team also won Champions League in 2010 and 2014.

Just like Dhoni, Advani also has a distinguished career, having won gold twice in Asian Games in 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou. He is also a multiple world-champion.