Rohit Sharma awarded Padma Shri for outstanding contribution to Indian cricket

President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Shri on former Indian captain Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo) Former India captain Rohit Sharma has added another prestigious accolade to his decorated career after being awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his immense contribution to cricket.President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma 2026 awards 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 batsmen and captains across formats.The Mumbai-born cricketer played a key role in Indian cricket’s recent successes, leading the national team to the ICC T20 World Cup title in Barbados in 2024 before guiding them to Champions Trophy glory in Dubai the following year. These triumphs further strengthened his position among India’s most respected leaders.Rohit’s ODI record remains among the best in world cricket. He amassed 11,720 runs in 285 matches 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. In 2019, he scored 4,301 runs, including 12 hundreds and 18 half-centuries, with a career-best 212 against South Africa. He brought the curtain down on his Test career in May 2025.The veteran batsman also enjoyed a remarkable T20I journey. After making his debut in the format in 2007, he ended his T20 international career with 4231 runs from 159 appearances. Rohit became the first player in men’s cricket to play more than 150 T20Is and remains one of the format’s most influential figures.His T20I career came to a perfect end when India lifted the T20 World Cup in 2024. Already part of the team that won the inaugural edition in 2007, Rohit became one of the few players to win the tournament both as a player and later as a captain. Shortly after the title triumph, he announced his retirement from T20 internationals.With his output in T20Is and Tests, Rohit now continues to represent India only in ODI cricket.The 2026 Padma awards ceremony saw President Murmu confer 65 honors during the second phase of the investiture. The list included two Padma Vibhushan awards, seven Padma Bhushan awards and 56 Padma Shri recipients. Earlier, 66 Padma awards were conferred during the first civic investiture ceremony held on 26 May.For Rohit, the Padma Shri serves as another milestone in recognition of a career full of records, trophies and memorable moments in Indian cricket.