Former India captain Rohit Sharma has added another prestigious honour 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 Murmu presented the Padma Awards 2026 during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. Rohit's recognition comes after a career that has seen him establish himself as one of India's most successful batters and captains across formats.
The Mumbai-born cricketer played a key role in Indian cricket's recent successes, leading the national side to the ICC T20 World Cup title in Barbados in 2024 before guiding them to Champions Trophy glory in Dubai the following year. Those triumphs further strengthened his standing among India's most accomplished leaders.
Rohit's ODI record remains among the finest in world cricket. Across 285 matches, he has amassed 11,720 runs at an average of 48.83 and a strike rate of 92.97.
His achievements in the format include the 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 4,301 runs, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with a career-best 212 against South Africa in 2019. He brought down the curtain on his Test career in May 2025.
The veteran batter also enjoyed a distinguished T20I journey. Having debuted in the format in 2007, he finished his international T20 career with 4,231 runs from 159 appearances. Rohit became the first men's cricketer to play more than 150 T20Is and remains one of the format's most influential figures.
His T20I career ended on the perfect note when India lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup. Having already been part of the squad 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.
With his exits from T20Is and Tests, Rohit now continues to represent India only in ODI cricket.
The Padma Awards 2026 ceremony saw President Murmu confer 65 honours during the second phase of the investiture proceedings. The list included two Padma Vibhushan awards, seven Padma Bhushan awards and 56 Padma Shri recipients. Earlier, 66 Padma Awards were presented during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held on May 26.
For Rohit, the Padma Shri serves as another landmark recognition of a career filled with records, trophies and unforgettable moments in Indian cricket.
Source: The Times of India
-Agencies
