Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma added another prestigious honor to his decorated career after being awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, for his immense contribution to cricket.President Droupadi Murma presented the 2026 Padma Awards during the second civil investiture ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. Rohit’s accolade comes after a career in which he has established himself as one of India’s most successful batsmen and captains across all formats.The Mumbai-born cricketer has played a key role in Indian cricket’s recent successes, leading the national team to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup title in Barbados before leading them to Champions Trophy glory in Dubai the following year. These triumphs further cemented his position among India’s most successful leaders.Rohit’s ODI record remains among the best in world cricket. In 285 matches, he amassed 11,720 runs at an average of 48.83 and a strike rate of 92.97. His achievements in the format include a world record individual score of 264 and an unprecedented three double centuries, milestones that continue to define his legacy.In Test cricket, Rohit made his debut in 2013 and represented India in 67 matches. He scored 4301 runs, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with a career-best score of 212 against South Africa in 2019. He brought down the curtain on his Test career in May 2025.The veteran also enjoyed an excellent T20I outing. After making his debut in the format in 2007, he finished his international T20 career with 4,231 runs from 159 appearances. Rohit became the first male cricketer to play more than 150 T20Is and remains one of the format’s most influential figures.His T20I career ended on a perfect note when India lifted the T20 World Cup 2024. Having already been a part of the team that won the inaugural edition in 2007, Rohit became one of the rare players to win the tournament both as a player and later as captain. Shortly after the title triumph, he announced his retirement from T20 internationals.After quitting T20Is and Tests, Rohit now continues to represent India only in ODI cricket.At the 2026 Padma Awards Ceremony, President Murmu conferred 65 awards during the second phase of the investiture process. The list includes two Padma Vibhushan awards, seven Padma Bhushan awards and 56 Padma Shri awardees. Earlier, 66 Padma awards were conferred during the first civil investiture ceremony held on 26 May.For Rohit, the Padma Shri serves as another significant recognition for a career filled with records, trophies and memorable moments in Indian cricket.
