Indian cricket witnessed another proud moment on Tuesday as the former captain Rohit Sharma He was awarded one of the country’s highest civilian awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The recognition comes after an illustrious international career in which Rohit established himself as one of the greatest white-ball batsmen in cricket history while also leading India to major ICC trophies as captain.
The ceremony was a fitting tribute to a player whose impact went far beyond statistics, inspiring generations of cricketers with his leadership, consistency and ability to perform on the biggest stages.
President Draupadi Murmu awarded the Padma Shri to former Indian captain Rohit Sharma
Rohit was officially introduced Padma Sri by President Draupadi Murmu during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The honor recognizes his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket over a career spanning nearly two decades.
The award comes on the back of a highly successful leadership stint that saw Rohit captain India. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2024 before adding ICC Champions Trophy In 2025. Under his leadership, India emerged as one of the most dominant white-ball sides in world cricket, ending a long wait for major ICC silverware.
Apart from his achievements as a captain, Rohit’s batting records place him among the greatest ODI players of all time. He remains the highest individual ODI score of 264 and is the only batsman in cricket history to have scored three double centuries in the format. Rohit admitted before receiving the award Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his wife bowing respectfully Ritika Sajdeh During the ceremony, the audience watched with pride.
The Indian batting legend now joins the elite list of cricketers to receive the Padma Shri. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Rohit’s International Career Stats:
- Tests: 67 matches, 4,301 runs, 40.6 average (12 centuries, 18 half-centuries)
- ODIs: 285 matches, 11,720 runs, 48.8 average (33 centuries, 62 half-centuries)
- T20Is: 159 matches, 4,231 runs, 32.0 average (5 centuries, 32 half-centuries)
His achievements include two T20 World Cup titles, first as a player in 2007 and later as a captain in 2024.
We present the video:
A highly prestigious honor for a great game 🙌
President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmuji @rashtrapatibhvn gives the past #TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma @ImRo45 👏 with the Padma Shri award
pic.twitter.com/6EyffHr1A4— BCCI (@BCCI) June 23, 2026
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Rohit continues to be a key figure in Indian cricket
Although Rohit has retired from T20I and Test cricket, he continues to play an important role in India’s ODI set-up. The veteran opener recently played in the ODI series against Afghanistan and is in the ODI squad. England. His experience will be invaluable as India continue their preparations 2027 ODI World Cup period. Even though he has moved away from the two formats, Rohit’s impact on Indian cricket remains huge both on and off the field.
The Padma Shri recognition further cements his legacy as one of the most accomplished cricketers India has produced. From being the sole batsman with three ODI double centuries to lifting multiple ICC trophies as captain, Rohit’s journey has been marked by record-breaking achievements and memorable moments.
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