New Delhi, Jan 26: Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur described being honoured with the Padma Shri as a “very big moment” in her career after the Padma Awards 2026 were announced on Sunday.
Kaur, who led India to their historic ICC Women’s World Cup title in 2025, said in a video shared on social media that her father was the first to receive the call from the President’s House informing the family of the prestigious award. “My dad got a call from the President’s House that this year I am going to receive the Padma Shri Award. So I think it’s a very big moment for me, and I am happy that, before me, my parents got to know,” she said.
Congratulating her fellow cricketer Rohit Sharma, who was also named a Padma Shri awardee this year, Kaur said, “Many, many congratulations to him as well — we have seen how hard he has been working, and I think it’s a great moment for him.”
Kaur added that from the moment she started playing cricket, she had dreamed of winning the World Cup, the Arjuna Award, and ultimately the Padma Shri, making the honour a significant milestone in her journey.
The Padma Shri is among India’s highest civilian honours, recognising distinguished service in various fields. This year’s list featured eight current and former sportspersons, highlighting the growing influence of Indian athletes on the global stage.