Harmanpreet Kaur and Rohit Sharma – two skippers who have lifted ICC trophies in the last three seasons – feature on the government’s 131-strong list of Padma Shri nominees announced on Sunday. The Padma Shri is India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, recognising contributions across sport, arts, science and public service.
First, the bare facts. Harmanpreet, 36, captained India to their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil in 2025, while Rohit, 38, guided the men’s side to the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy a year later. Both now join a diverse group of 113 Padma Shri recipients for 2026; veteran tennis commentator and former player Vijay Amritraj is the sole sportsperson on the Padma Bhushan list, the tier above.
The India women’s captain learned of her nomination when her father answered the phone. “My dad got a call from President House. This year I’m going to get the Padma Shri Award,” she said in a Mumbai Indians video. “I think it’s a very big moment for me. And I’m happy that, you know, before me my parents got to know.”
Rohit, currently focusing on a final crack at the 2027 50-over World Cup, has stepped back from Tests and T20Is but remains central to India’s ODI plans. Harmanpreet made sure to acknowledge her fellow honouree. “Many many congratulations to [Rohit] also,” she added. “We have seen how, you know, he has been really working hard and I think it’s a great moment for him.”
For Harmanpreet, the award caps a journey that began with her debut in 2009 and took flight in Derby during the 2017 World Cup semi-final, when her unbeaten 171 against Australia became part of cricket folklore. “The moment I started playing cricket, I’ve been dreaming about winning the World Cup and Arjuna Award and then Padma Shri Award, this is a very big achievement for me,” she reflected.
The Padma system can look a little opaque from the outside: nominations are forwarded by state governments, sports bodies and the public, then vetted by a national committee before the President signs off. Cricket is well represented – Kapil Dev, Mithali Raj and MS Dhoni are past recipients – but it is not an annual guarantee. Performances, longevity and off-field impact all weigh in.
Award ceremonies are traditionally held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the spring. Given both players’ hectic calendars – the women’s side travel to England in June, the men host New Zealand – the logistics will need sorting, yet neither appears short of motivation to attend.
No explosions of confetti, then, just two decorated careers acknowledged in a formal but welcome way. For Indian cricket followers, that feels about right.
