World Cup-winning captains Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur have been conferred with the Padma Shri honour in the list announced on Sunday (January 25). While Rohit led India to T20 World Cup glory in 2025 and a Champions Trophy title in 2025, Harmanpreet led India to their first-ever World Cup title in women's cricket in 2025.
40 cricketers have received the Padma Shri honour before Rohit and Harmanpreet, and the duo is set to join an illustrious list of elite cricketers who made a mark for the country on the international circuit. Rohit retired from the T20I format after the 2024 T20 World Cup and left ODI captaincy after the Champions Trophy win last year. The 38-year-old also retired from Tests during the same year.
Currently, Rohit only plays ODI cricket and is hoping to be on track for the 2027 ODI World Cup that will be played in South Africa. He also became the no.1 batter in the ICC ODI rankings for the first time in late 2025, although he was overtaken by teammate Virat Kohli two weeks ago. Kohli also lost his spot with Daryl Mitchell storming to the no.1 spot in the ODI batting rankings.
Harmanpreet, meanwhile, took India to the history books in the 2025 ODI World Cup as her side clinched a jinx-breaking title by beating South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Apart from the extraordinary performance in the final, India also produced a ODI record chase in the semifinal to go past Australia with Harmanpreet playing a key role with Jemimah Rodrigues.
Harmanpreet is the third highest run scorer in the history of Women's T20Is, only behind teammate Smriti Mandhana and Suzie Bates. If we consider only active cricketers, then Harmanpreet and Smriti would be at no.2 and no.1 respectively. In ODIs too, Harmanpreet has been a key figure for India's batting line-up and her form since taking over regular captaincy in 2022 has been exemplary.
