Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur added another milestone to her remarkable career on May 25 as she was conferred with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, by President Droupadi Murmu at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The prestigious recognition came after a historic phase for Indian women’s cricket under Harmanpreet’s leadership, highlighted by India’s maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph in 2025. The Indian skipper led the team to a memorable victory over South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai, creating one of the most defining moments in the history of women’s cricket in the country.
The achievement made Harmanpreet the first captain to guide India to a Women’s Cricket World Cup title and only the second Indian captain overall to win a World Cup on home soil after former men’s captain MS Dhoni achieved the feat in 2011.
Dressed in a traditional saree for the ceremony, Harmanpreet received the award from President Murmu in the presence of senior government officials, athletes, and dignitaries from across the country. The honour recognised not only her achievements as a cricketer but also her contribution to transforming the landscape of women’s sport in India.
Harmanpreet has been one of the central figures in the rise of Indian women’s cricket over the last decade. Known for her fearless batting, aggressive captaincy, and leadership under pressure, the Punjab-born cricketer has played a major role in bringing unprecedented attention and popularity to the women’s game.
Her iconic unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 Women’s World Cup semifinal remains one of the most celebrated innings in Indian cricket history and is widely regarded as a turning point for women’s cricket in India. That knock not only carried India into the final but also introduced Harmanpreet as a global star.
Since making her international debut in 2009, Harmanpreet has evolved into one of India’s most experienced and influential cricketers across formats. In One Day Internationals, she has featured in 164 matches, scoring 4,541 runs at an average of 37.22, including seven centuries and 24 half-centuries.
In T20 Internationals, where she has been one of India’s most dependable performers for over a decade, Harmanpreet has amassed 3,991 runs from 195 matches, registering one century and 16 fifties. She also remains among the highest run-scorers in the history of women’s T20I cricket.
Although opportunities in Test cricket have been limited in the women’s game, Harmanpreet has represented India in seven Tests and scored 230 runs, including a half-century.
Beyond her statistics, Harmanpreet’s influence has extended far beyond the field. Her leadership coincided with a transformative era for women’s cricket in India, including the launch and rapid growth of the Women’s Premier League. The tournament has significantly improved visibility, financial opportunities, and professional standards for Indian women cricketers.
Under Harmanpreet’s captaincy, India also secured major bilateral series victories and consistently remained among the top teams in ICC rankings. Her ability to mentor younger players while maintaining aggressive competitiveness has earned praise from former cricketers and experts around the world. The Padma Shri recognition places Harmanpreet among an elite group of Indian sportspersons honoured for their contributions to the country. Several other sports personalities were also recognised this year for their achievements across disciplines.
Former Indian men’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma was among the prominent names to receive the Padma Shri after leading India to multiple ICC titles during his captaincy tenure. Paralympic gold medal-winning high jumper Praveen Kumar, Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, veteran athletics coach Baldev Singh, K Pajanivel, and Bhagwandas Raikwar were also honoured with the same award.
Meanwhile, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in recognition of his immense contribution to Indian tennis and sports administration over several decades. Vladimir Mestvirishvili received the Padma Shri posthumously for his role in Indian sports development.
For Harmanpreet, the honour serves as another landmark in a career that has helped redefine women’s cricket in India. From being a young cricketer from Moga dreaming of representing the country to becoming one of the most influential figures in Indian sport, her journey has inspired an entire generation of young girls to take up cricket professionally.
With major ICC tournaments and the continued growth of the women’s game ahead, Harmanpreet’s legacy as both a trailblazer and champion of Indian women’s cricket continues to grow stronger.
