Rohit Sharma Celebrates Padma Shri Honor on Historic June 23

A Magical Day for Rohit Sharma

On June 23, former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma expressed his joy, stating, "23rd June brings all kinds of magic." This date holds special significance for him as it marks both his debut for India and his recent Padma Shri award, which he received on Tuesday.

The Padma Shri was awarded to Rohit in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Indian cricket over the years. The honor was presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Rohit made his international debut in an ODI against Ireland on June 23, 2007, where he did not bat, but India won the match by nine wickets using the D/L method.

After receiving the prestigious award, Rohit shared a photo on social media, reflecting on his journey: "23rd June brings all kinds of magic. 19 years ago, it began with an India cap. Today, another proud chapter is added to the story."

As one of the leading run-scorers in ODI history, Rohit has accumulated 11,720 runs in 285 matches, boasting an impressive average of 48.83 and a strike rate of 92.97. He holds remarkable records, including the highest individual ODI score of 264 and three double centuries.

Under Rohit's captaincy, the Indian men's team secured the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.

Rohit made his Test debut in 2013, playing 67 matches and scoring 4,301 runs, which includes 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with a top score of 212 against South Africa in 2019.

He also debuted in T20 cricket in 2007, amassing 4,231 runs in 159 matches, and was the leading scorer in the format until 2024. Rohit has won two T20 World Cups: the first in 2007 as a player and the second in 2024 as captain.

In 2024, he became the first male player to participate in over 150 T20 internationals, although he announced his retirement from the format following India's T20 World Cup triumph.

The Padma Awards 2026 ceremony, presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, took place on June 23, where a total of 65 awards were distributed, including two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards.

The first ceremony for the Padma Awards 2026 occurred on May 26, during which 66 awards were presented.