Navjot Singh Sidhu was sentenced to one year in prison by India's top court for a decades-old road rage case.
The Supreme Court ruled that the death of Gurnam Singh in 1988 was the result of intentional hurt to him.
The more serious charge of manslaughter still stands after the former MP was acquitted.
The jail sentence is a serious blow to his political career.
After his party was wiped out in state assembly elections, Sidhu resigned as the Congress party's chief in Punjab.
He can only appeal against the ruling once in the form of a curative petition.
The 65-year-old man died hours after an argument with Sidhu in Patiala.
He was a rising star in international cricket at the time.
The case was heard in a trial court. The court acquitted him in 1999.
He was acquitted of manslaughter in the high court. Indian laws do not allow convicted individuals to be public representatives, so he had to resign from his parliamentary seat.
The Supreme Court stayed the conviction and allowed him to return to his seat in the by-election. He was acquitted in the manslaughter case, but was found guilty of hurting the victim and ordered to pay a fine.
The Supreme Court added a one-year sentence to the fine after the victim's family appealed against the ruling.
One of India's most successful Test cricketers is Sidhu. He was known for his stylish and powerful stroke play, but also held equal command over playing spin.
He averaged 42 runs per match in 51 Test matches. He scored 4,413 runs and played 136 one-dayers. After four years, he joined the saffron party and became an mp. He rose to become a prominent party leader.
He launched a successful career as a cricket commentator and also as a TV personality on comedy shows in the next decade. He was popular as a commentator because of his witty and sharp style.
He became disgruntled with the party after not getting any important job in the government despite the party winning the general elections.
He joined the Congress and became the chief of its state unit in Punjab.