Rohit Sharma conferred Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Former India captain Rohit Sharma was on Tuesday, 23 June conferred the Padma Shri — one of India's highest civilian honours — at the Padma Awards ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu personally presented the award to the veteran cricketer in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket over nearly two decades.
The Ceremony
Rohit attended the second Civil Investiture Ceremony alongside his wife Ritika Sajdeh, having missed the first ceremony held in May. Among the other distinguished awardees at the event, former Indian tennis player Vijay Amritraj received the Padma Bhushan, while Indian women's hockey team goalkeeper Savita Punia was also conferred the Padma Shri.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a video of Rohit receiving the honour, writing: 'A highly prestigious honour for a great of the game. President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmuji @presidentofindia confers former #TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma @rohitsharma45 with the Padma Shri award.'
Rohit's Reaction
When the Padma Shri was first announced earlier this year, Rohit expressed heartfelt gratitude in a video released by Doordarshan on X in February. '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,' he said.
A Career of Milestones
Since making his international debut in 2007, Rohit has compiled a record that places him among the finest batters India has produced. In Test cricket, he scored more than 4,300 runs across 67 matches, including 12 centuries. His ODI record stands at over 11,500 runs and 33 hundreds in 282 appearances, while in T20 Internationals he amassed more than 4,200 runs and five centuries — figures that rank him among the format's all-time greats.
Trophy-Winning Captain
As captain, Rohit ended India's long wait for an ICC title by leading the side to the T20 World Cup in 2024, defeating South Africa in the final. The following year, he guided India to the Champions Trophy, cementing his standing as one of the country's most successful white-ball captains. Notably, this double-title run came after years of near-misses in ICC knockout stages — a pattern Rohit's captaincy decisively broke.
What's Next for Rohit
Although Rohit has stepped back from Test cricket and T20 Internationals, he continues to represent India in the 50-over format. The veteran opener remains central to India's ODI setup, with his sights firmly set on leading the team's campaign at the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.