President Droupadi Murmu gave Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, the Padma Shri on Monday in honor of her leadership in leading the Women in Blue to significant international triumphs, such as a World Cup victory in India, and for her contribution to Indian cricket.

Along with India men’s captain Rohit Sharma, she was one of the chosen athletes honored this year, making them the only two cricketers to get the honor in the 2026 list.

At the inaugural Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu gave out Padma prizes in various categories, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. A total of 131 Padma Awards have been authorized for 2026, with more winners set to be recognized in a future round.

The event saw Harmanpreet donning a traditional attire in cream as she was awarded the esteemed civilian award.

Her recognition follows a distinguished global career in which she captained India in numerous ICC competitions and ultimately led the team to a historic ODI World Cup triumph in 2025, when India won their first title by defeating South Africa in the championship match. Her fifth World Cup performance saw her win a decisive victory, bringing an end to years of close calls on the world stage.

Earlier, when the list of award recipients was revealed, Harmanpreet said in a video that was shared by her Women’s Premier League (WPL) team Mumbai Indians that the occasion was very important to her family.

“I received a phone call from President House. I’m going to receive the Padma Shri Award this year. For me, I believe this is a significant turning point. And I’m glad that my parents were able to get to know me before me.

Harmanpreet Kaur stated in a video posted by the franchise.

She also welcomed Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in the honors list, saying, “Many many congratulations to [Rohit] also. ” We’ve seen him put in a lot of effort, and I believe this is a fantastic moment for him.