Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma received the Padma Shri, one of the nation’s highest civilian honours during the Padma Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket, President Droupadi Murmu bestowed the veteran cricketer with the prize.
After skipping the first Civil Investiture Ceremony in May, Rohit and Ritika Sajdeh went to the second one.
Among the recipients of the Padma Shri were Savita Punia, a goalkeeper for the Indian women’s hockey team, and Vijay Amritraj, a former Indian tennis player who received the Padma Bhushan.
In a career that has lasted almost two decades at the highest level, this honor represents yet another important turning point. Rohit has cemented his position as one of India’s most successful batters and captains since his international debut in 2007, putting in unforgettable performances in all game formats.
The Indian cricket team tweeted the video of Rohit accepting the award, adding, A great of the game receives a really distinguished accolade. Smt Droupadi Murmuji, the President of India @presidentofindia, bestows the Padma Shri award to ex-TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma @rohitsharma45.
Rohit called the accolade a significant occasion for him and his family when his Padma Shri was disclosed earlier this year.
For my family and me, getting the Padma Shri is a really memorable occasion. For this honour, I am grateful to the Indian government. I am also appreciative of everyone who has been crucial to my career. I will never stop trying to earn games and trophies for my nation. Thanks. According to a February video on X from Doordarshan, he had said, “Jai Hind. ”
Indian cricket achieved significant success under Rohit’s captaincy. India ended their ICC trophy drought under his captaincy, winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 after beating South Africa in the final. The following year, he led the side to another big title as India won the Champions Trophy, solidifying his image as one of the most successful white-ball captains in the nation.
Rohit’s stats as a batsman demonstrate his durability and consistency. He scored more than 4,300 runs in 67 Test matches, including 12 hundred. He amassed over 11,500 runs and 33 hundreds in 282 One-Day Internationals, and in Twenty20 Internationals, he recorded more than 4,200 runs and five centuries, placing him among the format’s greatest players ever.
Rohit still plays for India in the 50-over format despite quitting Test and T20 Internationals. The seasoned opener is still an essential part of the ODI squad and hopes to lead India’s push for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.