Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award. This recognition places her among eight other current and former sportspersons on the 2026 Padma Awards list. Harmanpreet’s father, Harminder Singh Bhullar, emphasized the importance of encouraging children to pursue sports for bringing pride to their families and the nation.
The list of awardees includes a total of 131 recipients, comprising five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awardees. Harmanpreet, who had previously received the Arjuna Award in 2017, now adds the Padma Shri to her accolades for her contributions to Indian cricket, notably winning the Women’s World Cup.
Harminder expressed his joy at his daughter’s recognition, urging parents to provide opportunities for their children to excel in both sports and education. He highlighted that such opportunities can lead to children bringing honor to their families. He also mentioned that any potential promotion for Harmanpreet would be known only after a function organized by the Punjab government.
As the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across formats, Harmanpreet has steered the team through a phase of transformation and progress, emphasizing qualities like aggression, fitness, and confidence. Her leadership was instrumental in India achieving significant milestones in Test cricket and securing their first ICC title by winning the ODI World Cup.
