Harmanpreet Kaur traded her cricket jersey for a graceful traditional ensemble as she received the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu during the Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.
The honour came after a historic year for Indian women’s cricket, with Harmanpreet captaining India to its maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title in 2025 following a memorable final victory against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
For the prestigious occasion, the Indian skipper chose a timeless ivory kurta set that reflected simplicity and sophistication. Known for her sporty on-field appearances and relaxed off-duty fashion, Harmanpreet embraced understated ethnic elegance that perfectly suited the ceremonial atmosphere.
A subtle and graceful ethnic choice
Her outfit featured a flowy ivory kurta with a relaxed silhouette and delicate golden detailing along the borders. The embroidery remained minimal, allowing the muted palette and soft craftsmanship to stand out naturally.
She paired the kurta with matching wide-legged palazzo pants, maintaining a clean monochrome aesthetic throughout the look. The ensemble was completed with a coordinated dupatta featuring soft striped patterns, embroidered edges, and tassel accents that added movement without overwhelming the outfit.
From domestic cricket to leading India
Harmanpreet’s rise in Indian cricket has been marked by persistence and consistency. Starting her journey in domestic cricket in Punjab, she steadily built a reputation as an aggressive middle-order batter and dependable all-rounder before breaking into the national side in 2009.
Over the years, she emerged as one of the most influential figures in women’s cricket, known for her fearless batting and leadership qualities. Her unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup semifinal remains one of the defining knocks in Indian cricket history.
She has represented India in 356 international matches across formats and became the first Indian woman cricketer to score a century in a T20 International. Under her captaincy, India reached multiple ICC tournament knockouts before finally lifting the Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy in 2025, a landmark achievement for the sport in the country.
Emotional message after receiving honour
Following the ceremony, Harmanpreet shared photographs from the event on Instagram along with an emotional note reflecting on the milestone moment in her career.
“Today, my heart is filled with gratitude and pride as I receive the prestigious Padma Shri honour,” she wrote, adding that the recognition belonged equally to her parents, coaches, teammates, family members, and supporters who stood by her throughout her journey.
She also thanked the Government of India, the Sports Authority of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, journalists, and fans for supporting women’s cricket over the years.
Ending the note on a patriotic note, Harmanpreet wrote that wearing the India jersey would always remain the greatest honour of her life and promised to continue giving her best for the country.
