Rohit Sharma added another major national honour to his decorated career as he was conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. The India cricket great was among the prominent names from sport recognised in the Padma Awards 2026, with the honour marking another milestone in a career built on consistency, leadership and some of Indian cricket’s most memorable modern triumphs.
Rohit’s name had been announced among the Padma Shri awardees on Republic Day eve earlier this year, with the formal conferment taking place during the Civil Investiture Ceremony. The Padma Shri is India’s fourth-highest civilian award and is given for distinguished service across fields, including art, public affairs, science, social work, medicine, literature, education, industry and sports.
For Rohit, the recognition comes after a long international career in which he has grown from one of India’s most gifted batters into one of its defining white-ball figures. Known for his elegant strokeplay, remarkable six-hitting ability and record-breaking ODI double-centuries.
While Rohit remained the headline name from Indian cricket, the Padma Shri sports list for 2026 reflected a wider spread across disciplines. India women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur was also named for the honour, making it a significant year for cricket in the Padma Shri sports category. Harmanpreet has been one of the most influential figures in Indian women’s cricket, both as a power-hitter and as a leader who helped shape the team’s rise on the global stage.
Hockey also had strong representation, with Baldev Singh and Savita Punia included in the Padma Shri list. Savita, one of India’s finest goalkeepers, has been a central figure in the women’s hockey team’s progress over the last decade. Baldev Singh’s inclusion added another hockey name to a sports list that balanced current achievers with long-serving contributors.
The eight Padma Shri sports awardees for 2026 are Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Baldev Singh, Bhagwandas Raikwar, K Pajanivel, Praveen Kumar, Savita Punia and Vladimer Mestvirishvili.
