By Admin 
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS). Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her gratitude to her family, teammates, coaches and fans after receiving the Padma Shri from President Draupadi Murmu on Monday.
Harmanpreet was among the select players who were honored in the first civil investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Padma Shri awards were given in different categories in this ceremony. Former Indian men’s team captain Rohit Sharma was also among the recipients of the award. Soon after receiving the honour, Harmanpreet shared an emotional message on her social media account ‘Instagram’, in which she told about her journey from being a young cricketer to captaining India on the global stage.
Sharing a photo of the ceremony, she wrote, “Today my heart is filled with pride and gratitude as I have received the prestigious Padma Shri award. This honor is not just mine, but also of my parents, family, coaches, teammates, friends and everyone who has supported me and believed in me throughout this journey. From a little girl with dreams in her eyes to representing India on the biggest stage, every moment has been possible because of your love, sacrifice and courage.”
The Indian captain also thanked the President, the Government of India and cricket-related organizations for their continued support to women’s cricket. She wrote, “I would like to sincerely thank the President, the Government of India, Sports Authority of India, BCCI and everyone associated with Indian cricket for this honor and their continued support to women’s cricket. I also thank the media, journalists and all those who appreciated my achievements and kept my journey in front of the world. Your praise and support have always inspired me to do better.”
Indian women’s cricket has seen an important phase under the captaincy of Harmanpreet and after that she has received this honour. In 2025, under his captaincy, India won its first Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil. The Indian team ended its long-running title drought in ICC tournaments by defeating South Africa in the final. This victory came during his fifth World Cup and is counted among the biggest achievements of his international career.
Harmanpreet also thanked the fans for their unwavering support over the years. She wrote, “Finally, thank you to every fan who stood by me through every ups and downs. Your love means everything to me. Wearing the Indian jersey will always be the biggest honor of my life and I will continue to give my best for the country every day. I am so grateful that I cannot express it in words.”