Harmanpreet Kaur received the Padma Shri award in 2026 for her outstanding cricket leadership and historic World Cup victory.
Harmanpreet Kaur was presented with the esteemed Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu during a distinguished ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, May 25, 2026. The prestigious award acknowledges her remarkable contributions to cricket and her pivotal role in leading the Women in Blue to a groundbreaking World Cup triumph on Indian soil last year. In 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur made history by captaining the Indian women’s cricket team to their first-ever ICC Women's Cricket World Cup victory, defeating South Africa in the final match to claim the championship for the very first time. Harmanpreet Kaur has forged an exceptional career marked by national honors, ICC accolades, franchise cricket triumphs, and global recognitions. From earning the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri to guiding India to an unprecedented Women’s ODI World Cup win, the Indian skipper has consistently elevated the status of women’s cricket. Her achievements in tournaments like the Women's Premier League and the Women's Big Bash League, coupled with international honors such as the BBC 100 Women and TIME100 Next, highlight her profound influence both on and off the field. In 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur received the Arjuna Award, one of India’s most prestigious sports honors, in recognition of her cricketing excellence. She gained widespread acclaim during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup, particularly after her legendary unbeaten innings of 171 runs against Australia in the semifinal. This performance became one of the most iconic moments in women’s cricket and propelled India to the World Cup final. Under her guidance, India secured a 3-0 victory in the ODI series. One of the standout moments was her magnificent unbeaten 143-run performance at Canterbury, widely regarded as one of the finest innings of her career. The Indian women’s cricket captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, was included in the BBC 100 Women list, which celebrates inspiring and influential women globally. She was honored not only for her cricketing achievements but also for her significant contributions to women’s sports in India. Harmanpreet serves as a role model for countless young girls aspiring to pursue professional sports. Did Harmanpreet Kaur receive the Padma Shri Award? Yes, Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded the Padma Shri in May 2026. All images included are for editorial use only. Licensing available solely through Getty/Source.