Few Indian cricketers have shaped an era across formats quite like Rohit Sharma, and on Tuesday his contribution to the game was recognised with one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Former India Captain Rohit Sharma received the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, adding another landmark moment to a career that has spanned nearly two decades.
Rohit attended the ceremony alongside his wife Ritika Sajdeh after missing the first round of Padma Awards presentations in May. The ceremony on June 23 featured 65 awardees, including recipients of the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
Recognition for an extraordinary career
The Indian cricket team shared a message on X following the ceremony. “A highly prestigious honour for a great of the game. President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmuji @presidentofindia confers former #TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma @rohitsharma45 with the Padma Shri award.”
A highly prestigious honour for a great of the game 🙌
President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmuji @rashtrapatibhvn confers former #TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma @ImRo45 with the Padma Shri award 👏
pic.twitter.com/6EyffHr1A4— BCCI (@BCCI) June 23, 2026
Rohit’s name was announced among the Padma Shri awardees earlier this year. Former India Captain Rohit Sharma said in a video released by Doordarshan on X in February, “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. Thank you. Jai Hind.”
Trophy-winning leadership
Rohit’s captaincy period delivered two major ICC titles for India. He led the men’s team to victory at the ICC T20 World Cup in Barbados in 2024 before guiding the side to Champions Trophy success in Dubai in 2025, ending India’s lengthy wait for global silverware.
His achievements as a leader added to a playing career that began in 2007 and established him among the country’s most successful captains in white-ball cricket.
Records across formats
Rohit remains one of the most accomplished ODI batters in the history of the game. He has accumulated 11,720 runs in 285 matches at an average of 48.83 and is the only batter in ODI cricket to register three double centuries. His unbeaten 264 remains the highest individual score in the format.
In Test cricket, the former opener amassed 4,301 runs from 67 matches, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. His highest score of 212 came against South Africa in 2019.
Rohit also left a lasting mark on T20 Internationals. He scored 4,231 runs in 159 matches and became the first men’s player to appear in more than 150 T20Is before retiring from the format after India’s World Cup triumph in 2024. He remains one of only a handful of players to have lifted the men’s T20 World Cup twice, first as a player in 2007 and later as Captain in 2024.
Legacy continues in ODI cricket
While his Test and T20I journeys have now come to an end, Rohit remains available for India in the one-day format as he enters the next phase of his international career. The Padma Shri adds another chapter to a legacy built on major titles, unmatched ODI feats and nearly two decades of influence on Indian cricket.
