Indian Cricket Stars Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur to Receive Padma Shri Awards

The BCCI's Rajeev Shukla has congratulated Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur for their upcoming Padma Shri awards, recognizing their remarkable contributions to Indian cricket. Sharma's leadership led India to significant victories, while Kaur's achievements include a historic Women's World Cup win. Para-athlete Praveen Kumar will also be honored. The Padma Awards, among India's highest civilian honors, will be presented in 2026, celebrating excellence across various fields.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 26, 2026, 18:01 IST

Celebrating Indian Cricket Achievements

On Monday, Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), expressed his congratulations to Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur, who are set to be honored with the Padma Shri award for their significant contributions to Indian cricket. Sharma has successfully led India to victories in the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025, while Kaur guided the team to its first ICC Women's World Cup title in 2025. Additionally, Shukla praised para-athlete Praveen Kumar, who will also receive the Padma Shri in 2026.

BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla's Remarks

In a statement, Shukla remarked, "Rohit Sharma truly deserves this recognition for his exceptional performance. This honor should have been awarded earlier, but we extend our congratulations to him. Harmanpreet Kaur's recognition is equally deserved, as is the honor for para-athlete Praveen Kumar."

Last year, Praveen Kumar was awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and secured a gold medal in the Men's High Jump T64 at the 2024 Paralympics.

Overview of the Padma Awards 2026

For the year 2026, the President of India has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, which includes two duo cases (counted as one award). The awards comprise five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.

These prestigious awards are presented by the President during ceremonial events at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honors, categorized into three levels: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for notable service in any field.

List of Sports Awardees

The complete list of Padma Awards 2026 for sports personalities includes:

Padma Bhushan - Vijay Amritraj

Padma Shri - Baldev Singh

Padma Shri - Bhagwandas Raikwar

Padma Shri - K Pajanivel

Padma Shri - Praveen Kumar

Padma Shri - Rohit Sharma

Padma Shri - Harmanpreet Kaur

Padma Shri - Savita Punia

Padma Shri - Vladimer Mestvirishvili