Harmanpreet Kaur honoured with Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu
Harmanpreet Kaur with President Droupadi Murmu (Source: X/@rashtrapatibhvn)
Published - 25 May 2026, 08:25 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur was conferred with Padma Shri by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, May 25. Kaur was bestowed with the honour for her excellent contribution in the field of sports, having taken Indian women’s cricket to unprecedented heights.
She led India to their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph on home soil in November 2025, etching her name with golden words in the history books. The recognition for the India captain comes ahead of another major tournament as she’s set to lead her team in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales, beginning on June 12.
President Droupadi Murmu confers #PadmaShri upon captain of the Indian women’s cricket team Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar
— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 25, 2026
One of the most dynamic and impactful cricketers of her generation, she led India to its historic first Women’s Cricket World Cup title #PeoplesPadma… pic.twitter.com/Iuzu9326fh
Harmanpreet made her debut for India during an ODI against Pakistan on March 7, 2009 and has represented the country in 164 ODIs, 195 T20Is and 7 Tests. She’s the third-highest run scorer for the Women in Blue in the 50-over format with 4541 runs to her name from 143 innings at an average of 37.22 with seven hundreds and 24 fifties to her name.
Her record-breaking innings of 171* (115) in the 2017 World Cup semi-final against Australia, remains the highest individual score in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Rohit Sharma also conferred with the award
In T20Is, she’s the third-highest run scorer ever with 3991 runs from 174 innings at an average of 29.78 with one hundred and 16 fifties. The 37-year-old is also the most successful captain of the format (in terms of wins), having guided India to 81 victories out of 140 matches.
Harmanpreet also has taken the second-most catches in T20Is (73) after New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (96). Meanwhile, Harmanpreet will next travel to England as India finalise their preparations for the T20 World Cup in a three-match T20I series against England, beginning on May 28.
Apart from Harmanpreet, former India men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma was also conferred with Padma Shri but couldn’t attend the ceremony to personally receive the honour.
