India women’s cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, was officially conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award by President Droupadi Murmu during the Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Harmanpreet was among a select group of sportspersons recognized this year, sharing the cricketing spotlight with former men’s captain Rohit Sharma as the only two cricketers on the 2026 honors list.
Following the ceremony, an emotional Harmanpreet took to social media to express her profound gratitude. Dedicating the honor to her family, coaches, teammates, and fans, she reflected on her inspiring journey from a young girl with big dreams to leading the nation on the global stage. She emphasized that the recognition belongs to everyone who supported her, stating that wearing the Indian jersey remains the greatest honor of her life.
The prestigious award follows a historic and landmark phase for Indian women’s cricket under her visionary leadership. In 2025, Harmanpreet captained the national team to a historic maiden ODI Women’s World Cup title on home soil, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final. The monumental victory, coming in her fifth World Cup appearance, successfully ended years of heartbreak in ICC events and cemented her legacy as one of India’s finest captains.
In her heartfelt message, Harmanpreet also extended her sincere thanks to the Government of India, the Sports Authority of India, and the BCCI for their unwavering support in elevating women’s cricket. She concluded by thanking the media and her millions of fans for standing by her through every high and low, promising to continue giving her absolute best for the country.
