Harmanpreet Kaur Awarded Padma Shri for Contributions to Women’s Cricket
New Delhi: Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, has been honored with the Padma Shri award, India’s fourth-highest civilian accolade. The central government announced a list of 131 awardees on January 26, 2026, in which Kaur was included.
Kaur received this recognition for her significant contributions to the advancement of women’s cricket in India. Notably, she led the Indian team to victory in the ODI World Cup in 2025, where they triumphed over South Africa in the final to secure the prestigious title for the first time in history.
The 36-year-old veteran was participating in her fifth ODI World Cup, and after enduring several near misses in previous tournaments, she successfully broke that pattern, guiding her team to success.
Upon learning of her award, Kaur expressed her joy and shared the news with her parents before accepting the honor. “My dad got a call from the President’s House. This year I’m going to get the Padma Shri Award. I think it’s a very big moment for me,” she stated in a video shared by Mumbai Indians.
Additionally, she extended her congratulations to fellow cricketer Rohit Sharma, who was also named among the awardees, recognizing his hard work and dedication. “Many, many congratulations to [Rohit] also. We have seen how he has been really working hard, and I think it’s a great moment for him,” Kaur added.
