Former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma was awarded the Padma Shri on June 23, 2026, by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket over the past decades.
Padma Awards 2026 Ceremony
The second Civil Investiture Ceremony for the Padma Awards 2026 took place on Tuesday evening, where a total of 65 Padma Awards were presented, including two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards. The first ceremony was held on May 26, 2026, during which 66 Padma Awards were conferred.
Rohit Sharma's Leadership and Achievements
Under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, the Indian men's cricket team secured the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Sharma is one of the most prolific batters in ODI history, having scored 11,720 runs in 285 matches at an average of 48.83 and a strike rate of 92.97. He holds several world records, including the highest individual ODI score of 264 and three double centuries.
Sharma made his Test debut in 2013 and represented India in 67 matches, scoring 4,301 runs with 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, including a career-best 212 against South Africa in 2019. In T20Is, he made his debut in 2007 and amassed 4,231 runs in 159 matches, retiring as the format's leading run-scorer in 2024. He won two T20 World Cups: the first as a player in 2007 and the second as captain in 2024.
In 2024, Sharma became the first men's player to feature in over 150 T20Is. He announced his retirement from the format after India's T20 World Cup victory.
Recognition and Impact
The Padma Shri award highlights Sharma's enduring impact on Indian cricket, both as a player and a leader. His records and leadership have inspired a generation of cricketers.
