Former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma was honored with the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 23. This prestigious award, which is India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, acknowledges his significant contributions to Indian cricket and his remarkable achievements as both a batter and a captain. Rohit was accompanied by his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, who beamed with pride from the audience. This accolade adds yet another impressive chapter to the career of one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, placing him among an exclusive group of Padma Shri recipients from the sport.
Rohit said in a video released by Doordarshan on X in February, “Receiving the Padma Shri is a very special moment for me and my family. I thank the Government of India for this honour. I am also grateful to all those people who have played an important role in my career. My effort to win matches and trophies for my country will always continue. Thank you. Jai Hind.”
The date of the ceremony held special meaning for Rohit. It was on June 23, 2007, that he made his international debut for India in an ODI against Ireland in Belfast. Although he didn’t get a chance to bat in that match, he made his mark with a catch in the field. Just three days later, he scored his first international runs against South Africa, kicking off a journey that would last nearly two decades.
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Rohit Sharma’s Prolific Indian and IPL Career
The Padma Shri comes at a time when Rohit is riding high on the waves of success in his career. As the captain of India, he guided the team to clinch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2024, and then followed that up with a win in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. These victories have solidified his status as one of India’s top white-ball captains.
His ODI record is nothing short of remarkable. Over 285 matches, Rohit has racked up 11,720 runs, which includes an impressive 33 centuries. He holds the world record for the highest individual ODI score at 264 and is the only player to have hit three double-centuries in this format. In T20 Internationals, he has scored 4,231 runs in 159 matches, finishing with five centuries to his name. Before stepping away from Test cricket, he also amassed over 4,300 runs in 67 matches.
Rohit’s achievements extend to the IPL as well, where he has bagged six titles throughout his career – five of those as the captain of the Mumbai Indians and one with the Deccan Chargers. His leadership has turned the Mumbai Indians into one of the most successful franchises in the league. Even though he has retired from Tests and T20Is, Rohit is still active in ODI cricket and remains a crucial part of India’s strategy for the upcoming 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
