Former India captain Rohit Sharma was conferred the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, by President Droupadi Murmu at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
The award was presented in recognition of Rohit’s outstanding contribution to Indian cricket. The veteran batter attended the second Civil Investiture Ceremony along with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, after missing the first ceremony held in May.
Among other sportspersons honoured, former tennis player Vijay Amritraj received the Padma Bhushan, while Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia was awarded the Padma Shri.
The recognition marks another milestone in Rohit’s distinguished career, which has spanned nearly two decades at the international level. Since making his debut for India in 2007, he has established himself as one of the country’s most successful batters and captains across formats.
The Indian cricket team shared a video of the award presentation on social media, describing it as “a highly prestigious honour for a great of the game.”
Reacting to the announcement of the award earlier this year, Rohit Sharma had said the honour was a special moment for him and his family.
“Receiving the Padma Shri is a very special moment for me and my family. I thank the Government of India for this honour. I am also grateful to all those people who have played an important role in my career. My effort to win matches and trophies for my country will always continue,” he said in a video released by Doordarshan in February.
Rohit’s tenure as captain coincided with a successful period for Indian cricket. Under his leadership, India ended its ICC trophy drought by winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 after defeating South Africa in the final. In 2025, he guided the team to the ICC Champions Trophy title, further strengthening his standing among India’s most successful white-ball captains.
As a batter, Rohit has compiled an impressive record across formats. In Test cricket, he scored more than 4,300 runs in 67 matches, including 12 centuries. In One-Day Internationals, he has amassed over 11,500 runs and 33 centuries in 282 matches. He also scored more than 4,200 runs and five centuries in T20 Internationals, placing him among the format’s leading performers.
Although Rohit has retired from Test cricket and T20 Internationals, he continues to represent India in the ODI format. The veteran opener remains a key figure in the national team and is expected to play a significant role in India’s preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
(With inputs from IANS)
