Former Indian Cricket Captain Rohit Sharma Conferred Padma Shri by President Murmu Former India captain Rohit Sharma rec…
Former India cricket captain Rohit Sharma officially received the prestigious Padma Shri award from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The veteran opening batter was honored during an elite state ceremony for his monumental contributions to the sport, anchoring a celebrated class of national sports and cultural icons.
Key Highlights
- Former national captain Rohit Sharma received the Padma Shri award on June 23, 2026, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- The elite ceremony featured 65 total state honors, including two Padma Vibhushan and seven Padma Bhushan distinctions.
- White-ball star Rohit Sharma skipped the May 2025 investiture before collecting his medal alongside his family.
- Legendary tennis player Vijay Amritraj received the high-ranking Padma Bhushan during the formal civil distribution.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the coveted Padma Shri medal to cricket icon Rohit Sharma during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony-II within the Ganatantra Mandap at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Former India captain Rohit Sharma was on Tuesday conferred the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, during the Padma Awards ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to the veteran cricketer in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.
Rohit attended the second Civil Investiture Ceremony along with his wife Ritika Sajdeh after missing the first ceremony held in May.
Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, actors Mammootty and Satish Shah, cricketer Rohit Sharma, and playback singer Alka Yagnik were among eminent personalities conferred with the coveted Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday.
In the second civil investiture ceremony at the Ganatantra Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president presented Padma Vibhushan to former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas for public affairs and eminent Malayalam journalist P Narayanan for contribution in literature and education.
Alka Yagnik, Mammootty, American oncologist Dattatreyudu Nori, tennis player Vijay Amritraj, industrialist S K M Maeilanandhan and social worker and educationist Vellappally Natesan received Padma Bhushan from the president during the ceremony.
Rupi Soren, wife of JMM founder Shibu Soren, received the Padma Bhushan on behalf of the late leader.
The president conferred Padma Shri to cricketer Rohit Sharma, who led India to victory in the last T20 World Cup, and hockey player Savita Punia.
Vladimir Mestvirishvili, the Georgian coach who mentored Indian Olympic medallists like Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dahiya was awarded Padma Shri posthumously. His wife received the award on his behalf.
The function was attended by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Home Minister Amit Shah among other dignitaries.
The arrival of 83-year-old folk artist and cultural guardian from Nagaland, Guru Sangyusang Pongener, added a dash of vibrant cultural touch to the ceremony. Dressed in traditional Naga attire, his spirited entry drew a huge round of applause from the audience, including Prime Minister Modi. He received the Padma Shri.
Social worker Budhri Tati, who worked in the field of education and women empowerment in the previously naxal-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, also received Padma Shri. She, too, preferred her traditional dress and received warm applause as she walked up to accept the honour.
The president also conferred Padma Shri to actor Satish Shah posthumously. The actor was known for essaying prominent roles in the countryβs first sitcom Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai and cult movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. His brother received the award on his behalf.
Former CEO of Prasar Bharati Shashi Shekhar Vempati who is now the CBFC Chairman was also awarded Padma Shri by the president.
In the ceremony, the president conferred 65 Padma Awards, including two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan and 56 Padma Shri.
Actor R Madhavan, Indian aerospace scientist in Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Chandramouli Gaddamanugu, who led the Akash Missile system from development to deployment during Operation Sindoor, former MHA under secretary RVS Mani and a self-made entrepreneur from a Dalit cobbler family Ashok Khade who established a cutting-edge offshore fabrication company were awarded Padma Shri.
Dalit author Asok Kumar Haldar, who wrote inspiring literature while being a railway guard, Ranjani and Gayatri (counted as one award) for Carnatic music, famous actor Anil Kumar Rastogi and chemistry professor Mahendra Nath Roy were also conferred Padma Shri.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the Padma Awards celebrate exceptional service and dedication across diverse fields.
βEach awardee represents the best of our commitment to society. Their life journeys inspire countless citizens and remind everyone of the power of hard work and service,β he posted on X.
On Republic Day eve, the government had announced 131 Padma awards including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The awards included five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
The president had conferred 65 Padma Awards β two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan and 57 Padma Shri in the first civil investiture ceremony held on May 25. The remaining 65 awards (including a duo) were presented during the ceremony on Tuesday.
The Padma Awards β one of the highest civilian awards of the country, are conferred in three categories β Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The awards are given in various disciplines of activities β art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shr
Former Indian tennis icon Vijay Amritraj accepted the prestigious Padma Bhushan medal, while national women’s field hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia was similarly numbered among the distinct state honorees collecting her Padma Shri decoration.
The high-ranking accolade marks yet another stellar benchmark in a professional career spanning nearly two decades across global cricket. Since making his initial international debut in 2007, Rohit has comprehensively established his legacy as a premier Indian run-scorer and dynamic on-field captain across all international formats.
The official Indian cricket delegation published video footage documenting Rohit collecting his state medal, stating online that it represents a highly valued honour for a true giant of the sport, acknowledging the President of India for awarding former national skipper Rohit Sharma.
When his selection was made public earlier during the year, Rohit characterized the government award as an incredibly meaningful milestone for both himself and his closest family members.
“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,” Rohit remarked in an archived media clip.
The player’s leadership tenure catalyzed historic competitive triumphs for the national cricket structure. Under his command, India decisively snapped its long-standing global trophy drought by securing the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy after outlasting South Africa in an intense championship finale.
The subsequent year, he successfully captained the squad to another major international championship as India claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, fortifying his enduring credentials as one of the country’s most tactically astute limited-overs leaders.
As a specialist batsman, Rohit’s career statistics showcase exceptional batting longevity. In elite Test cricket, the opening batter accumulated more than 4,300 runs across 67 appearances, achieving 12 separate centuries.
His extensive One Day International path generated over 11,500 runs featuring 33 centuries in 282 appearances, while his shorter-format international statistics record over 4,200 runs and five centuries, cementing his standing among the greatest T20 hitters in history.
Though Rohit has formally retired from elite Test matches and international T20 cricket, he maintains his active status in the traditional 50-over platform. The veteran opening batsman remains a vital pillar within the ODI squad and remains focused on captaining India’s ultimate pursuit of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Future Outlook
As Rohit Sharma transitions away from multi-format international commitments, his focus shifts entirely toward anchoring India’s top-order batting unit in the one-day arena. The elite batsman aims to maximize his performance parameters ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, targeting a definitive world title before concluding his historic international journey. National selectors expect his veteran presence to provide crucial stabilization for emerging top-order prospects transitioning into the national system.
FAQs
When did Rohit Sharma receive his Padma Shri award?
President Droupadi Murmu formally presented Rohit Sharma with the Padma Shri medal on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during the second official Civil Investiture Ceremony organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Why did Rohit Sharma miss the initial Padma Awards ceremony in May?
Rohit Sharma was unable to attend the initial civil investiture ceremony held on May 25, 2025, resulting in his attendance alongside his wife at the secondary session in June to accept the award.
What are Rohit Sharma’s key career achievements mentioned in the report?
Rohit Sharma successfully guided India to the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He has accumulated over 11,500 ODI runs and registered 33 centuries in the 50-over international format.
Which other sports personalities received honors at the ceremony?
Indian tennis pioneer Vijay Amritraj was conferred with the higher-tier Padma Bhushan award, while national women’s field hockey team goalkeeper Savita Punia collected her Padma Shri award alongside Rohit Sharma.
