Padma Shri Honour a Dream Come True for Harmanpreet Kaur

New Delhi- India women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared an emotional note of gratitude after being conferred the prestigious Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu on Monday.

Harmanpreet was among the distinguished sportspersons honoured during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Former India men’s captain Rohit Sharma was also honoured, with the two becoming the only cricketers featured in the 2026 Padma awards list.

Soon after receiving the honour, Harmanpreet took to Instagram to reflect on her remarkable journey from a young girl chasing dreams to leading India on the world stage.

“Today, my heart is filled with gratitude and pride as I receive the prestigious Padma Shri honour. This recognition is not just mine — it belongs to my parents, family, coaches, teammates, friends and every single person who supported and believed in me throughout this journey,” she wrote.

Recalling her rise in cricket, the India skipper said every milestone in her career was made possible because of the sacrifices, encouragement and unwavering support she received over the years.

She also thanked the President of India, the Government of India, the Sports Authority of India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India for their continued backing of women’s cricket in the country.

Harmanpreet’s recognition comes after a historic phase for Indian women’s cricket under her leadership. In 2025, she captained India to their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph on home soil, guiding the team to victory over South Africa in the final and ending years of heartbreak in ICC tournaments. The title win became one of the defining moments of her international career.

In her message, the star batter also thanked fans for standing by her through every high and low. “Wearing the India jersey will always remain the greatest honour of my life, and I will continue giving my best for the country every single day,” she wrote.

With inputs from IANS