Former India captain Rohit Sharma was conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 23, 2026. The award recognises nearly two decades of outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.
The timing carried special significance. Rohit received the honour exactly 19 years after making his international debut for India on June 23, 2007, against Ireland. Reacting on X, he wrote that the date keeps bringing milestones, from receiving his India cap to now being honoured by the nation.
Rohit captained India to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados and then guided the team to Champions Trophy glory in Dubai in 2025, making him one of India’s most decorated white-ball captains. He is only the third Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni to hold multiple ICC trophies as captain.
Across 285 ODIs, he has scored 11,720 runs including 31 centuries, and holds the world record for the highest individual ODI score of 264. His three ODI double centuries remain unmatched in the history of the format.
Eight sportspersons received the Padma Shri in 2026, with women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur also among the honourees. Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj received the higher Padma Bhushan at the same ceremony.
Rohit currently continues to represent India in ODI cricket after retiring from T20Is in 2024 and Tests in May 2025.
