Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed gratitude to her family, teammates, coaches, and fans after receiving the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu on Monday. Harmanpreet described the recognition as a moment of pride and emotion following her inclusion among recipients of one of the country’s civilian honours.
After receiving the award during the Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Harmanpreet shared a message on social media thanking her family, teammates, coaches, and millions of supporters. She said the recognition was not solely a personal achievement but a shared success of all those who supported her throughout her cricket journey.
During the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, several distinguished personalities were conferred Padma awards. Former Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma also received a Padma honour during the ceremony. Sharing a photograph from the event on her official Instagram account, Harmanpreet said the honour belonged to her parents, family members, friends, coaches, and all those who believed in her.
Harmanpreet said that her journey from being a girl from a small town to leading India on the international stage was not easy, but continued support and trust motivated her to move forward.
Harmanpreet Kaur is regarded among the most influential players in Indian women’s cricket. Through her batting, leadership, and consistent performances, she has contributed to increasing the profile of women’s cricket in India and internationally. Experts have said that Harmanpreet played an important role in the rapid growth in the popularity of Indian women’s cricket in recent years. Under her captaincy, the Indian team achieved several milestones and strengthened its presence in international cricket.
Under Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy, the Indian women’s team won its first Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil in 2025. India defeated South Africa in the final to end a long wait for an ICC trophy. Experts said the victory contributed renewed momentum to women’s cricket in India and inspired younger players.
The tournament marked Harmanpreet’s fifth World Cup, and the title-winning campaign has been described as the most emotional and significant moment of her international career.
