The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards will be held on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, celebrating the achievements of India’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. The awards recognise performances delivered between January 1 and December 31, 2025, honouring standout displays at global championships and major international events. With more than 45 categories, TOISA highlights both established stars and emerging talents who brought pride to the nation through exceptional performances over the past year.The winners will be selected by a distinguished jury comprising some of India’s most celebrated sporting icons. Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, hockey great PR Sreejesh, former India captain Mithali Raj, Paralympic legend Devendra Jhajharia, table tennis stalwart Sharath Kamal and tennis icon Leander Paes will evaluate the nominees across categories, ensuring a credible and expert assessment of excellence in Indian sport.The nominees for the Sportsperson of the Year category reflect the diversity and success of Indian sport in 2025. Teenage shooting sensation Suruchi Inder Singh enjoyed a breakthrough season with five gold medals across ISSF World Cup stages and a silver at the World Championships. Chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh made history by winning the Women’s Chess World Cup and earning the Grandmaster title. In cricket, Smriti Mandhana played a key role in India’s maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph, while Shubman Gill enjoyed a prolific year that included titles in the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. Young shooter Samrat Rana also shone on the global stage, becoming world champion in the 10m air pistol, capping off a memorable year for Indian sport.Here are the nominees for Sportsperson of the Year at TOISA 2025:Suruchi Inder SinghDate of Birth: April 28, 2006Place of Birth: Jhajjar, HaryanaSport: Shooting (10m air pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Silver (Team)ISSF World Cup Final: Gold (Individual)ISSF World Cup Buenos Aires: Gold (Individual), Bronze (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Lima: Gold (Individual), Gold (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Munich: Gold (Individual)Asian Championships: Bronze (Team), Bronze (Mixed Team)2025 was a breakthrough year for teenage shooter Suruchi Singh. The 19-year-old rose to prominence after winning five gold medals across ISSF World Cup stages. She began with individual gold at the ISSF World Cup in Argentina, where she also claimed mixed team bronze. She followed it up with a double gold at the ISSF World Cup in Peru, winning the individual title and the mixed team gold with Saurabh Chaudhary. Suruchi then secured another individual gold at the ISSF World Cup in Germany before clinching her fifth gold at the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha. She also added a team silver at the ISSF World Championships and won two bronze medals at the Asian Championships, completing a remarkable season. Divya DeshmukhDate of Birth: December 9, 2005Place of Birth: Nagpur, MaharashtraSport: ChessMajor Achievements in 2025:Women’s Chess World Cup: WinnerGrandmaster (GM) titleQualified for the 2026 Women’s Candidates TournamentBorn on December 9, 2005, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Divya Deshmukh has rapidly established herself as one of India’s brightest chess talents. Known for her sharp calculation, strategic depth, and composure under pressure, Divya has consistently impressed on the international stage, combining tactical brilliance with a strong competitive mindset.The year 2025 proved historic for her career. She won the Women’s Chess World Cup, defeating top contenders and announcing herself as a major force in global women’s chess. This landmark victory also earned her the prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title, making her India’s 88th Grandmaster and the fourth Indian woman to achieve this feat. Additionally, her performances secured her qualification for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, bringing her a step closer to challenging for the Women’s World Championship.With her talent, dedication, and early success, Divya Deshmukh is widely regarded as a future star in Indian and international chess, inspiring a new generation of players.Smriti MandhanaDate of Birth: July 18, 1996Place of Birth: Mumbai, MaharashtraSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC ODI World Cup 2025: Winner as vice-captain of Team IndiaODI stats in 2025: 1362 runs in 23 matches | Ave. 61.9 | SR 109.92 | 5 hundredsT20I stats in 2025: 341 runs in 9 matches | Ave. 37.88 | SR 135.85 | 1 hundredIn 2025, Smriti Mandhana played a defining role in Indian women’s cricket history as vice-captain of the side that lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title — India’s first-ever triumph in the tournament. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final at the DY Patil Stadium on November 2, capping off a memorable campaign. Mandhana was central to the victory, scoring 434 runs in the tournament to finish as the second-highest run-getter. During the event, smashed a breathtaking 50-ball hundred against England — the second-fastest century in women’s international cricket. Over the calendar year, she became the first woman to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a single year and broke her own record for most ODI centuries in a year, hitting five in 2025 — joint-most alongside Tazmin Brits.Mandhana also reached significant career milestones across formats. In December, during a home series against Sri Lanka, she became only the second woman after Suzie Bates to cross 4,000 runs in T20 Internationals. In the same series, she went past 10,000 runs in women’s international cricket, becoming just the second Indian after Mithali Raj and the fourth batter overall to achieve the landmark — further cementing her legacy as one of the modern greats of the game.Samrat RanaDate of Birth: January 8, 2005Place of Birth: Karnal, HaryanaSport: Shooting (10m Air Pistol)Major Achievements in 2025:ISSF World Championships: Gold (Individual), Gold (Team) & Silver (Mixed Team)ISSF World Cup Final: Bronze (Individual)Young Samrat Rana created history last year by becoming the first world champion from India in his event, the 10m Air Pistol, marking a defining breakthrough in his career. The former junior world champion delivered a sensational performance at the ISSF World Championships 2025, where he emerged as one of the biggest stars of the tournament with a haul of three medals. Rana clinched the gold medal in the individual event and followed it up with another gold in the team competition. He also secured a silver medal in the mixed team event alongside Esha Singh.With this outstanding performance, Rana became only the third Indian shooting world champion, joining the elite list that includes Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and world champion Rudrankksh Patil. The 21-year-old continued to shine later in the season, adding a bronze medal at the Doha World Cup Final, ensuring that the year would go down as one of the most memorable and significant phases of his rapidly progressing shooting journey.Shubman GillDate of Birth: September 8, 1999Place of Birth: Fazilka, PunjabSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC Champions Trophy 2025: WinnersACC Asia Cup: WinnersTest stats in 2025: 983 runs in 9 matches | Ave. 70.21 | HS 269 | 5 hundredsODI stats in 2025: 490 runs in 11 matches | Ave. 49.00 | SR 88.76 | 2 hundredsT20I stats in 2025: 291 runs in 15 matches | Ave. 24.25 | SR 137.26 | HS 47 Shubman Gill enjoyed a phenomenal 2025, cementing his status as one of world cricket’s premier batters. He won two ICC Men’s Player of the Month honours during the year, becoming the first male cricketer to claim the accolade four times in total. Entering the ICC Champions Trophy as the top-ranked ODI batter, Gill struck an unbeaten 101 against Bangladesh in the group stage, setting the tone for India’s title-winning campaign. He also served as deputy to Suryakumar Yadav in the 2025 Asia Cup (T20), where India lifted the trophy after defeating Pakistan in the final.In Tests, Gill ushered in a new era as captain following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He marked his leadership debut with a century at Headingley, joining the elite list of Indian captains to score a hundred in their first Test in charge. He followed it up with successive centuries at Edgbaston, including a monumental 269 — the highest Test score by an Indian captain — and 161 in the same match, amassing 430 runs, the second-highest aggregate in a Test after Graham Gooch. Gill also became only the third Indian captain to score five Test centuries in a calendar year, emulating Kohli’s rare feat.

Abhishek Sharma (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma did not expect to begin the T20 World Cup 2026 the way he had planned, dreamt and desired. The swashbuckling opener, known for his blistering batting and high strike rate while pummelling bowlers all over the park, endured a nightmare start to the tournament. Abhishek was out for a duck in India’s opening match against the USA and then failed to score again in the next match against arch-rivals Pakistan.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!He was once again given a chance by the team management in the third match against the Netherlands, but it was the same story for Abhishek — a third consecutive duck.

The disappointment, lack of confidence and hunger to score were clearly visible on Abhishek’s face. That was when captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir stepped in to support the youngster during his tough phase.

Abhishek has now revealed the radical advice he received from Gambhir and Surya during his darkest phase in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026.Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Abhishek admitted that after his second consecutive duck in the tournament, he was close to an emotional breakdown.“Slowly you get used to it. But it does feel bad (when there is criticism). That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi [take your phone and uninstall social media right now]’,” Abhishek said. “That was the first thing I did after my second zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people. That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore. That is because they have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver and sometimes you don’t. I expected this.”After scoring three ducks in a row, Abhishek finally returned among the runs with 15 against South Africa. He soon regained his rhythm, scoring 55 against Zimbabwe and looking close to his fluent best.However, he once again struggled against England, managing just nine runs.All eyes were on him in the title clash. This time, however, Abhishek had other plans. He smashed New Zealand bowlers all over the park in the final, scoring a blistering 52 off just 21 balls and stitching a 98-run opening partnership with Sanju Samson to lay a solid foundation for India.India went on to post a massive 255/5 in their allotted 20 overs before bowling New Zealand out for 159 to win the T20 World Cup 2026 title.It was India’s third T20 World Cup triumph, having previously lifted the trophy in 2007 and 2024.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed all of its T20 World Cup squad members have reached the archipelago nation following a lengthy delay in India.

The Caribbean team played its last game against eventual champions India on March 1, but due to the war in the Middle East and West Asia, they couldn’t fly back the very next day. Airspace operations around the world have been affected by the ongoing war.

Also Read: When Gautam Gambhir rebuked the famous Indian politician for saying, ‘Sanju Samson would grow to become next MS Dhoni’

As a result, the West Indies were stuck in Kolkata for several days after their match at the Eden Gardens. They finally flew out earlier this week. South Africa was another team stuck in India following their defeat at the hands of New Zealand on March 4. They too departed earlier this week.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy was particularly frustrated at the development, and he often let his opinion be known on X. “Just wanna go home” was one of his posts that drew a lot of attention.

Anyway, CWI released a small release on Saturday to confirm that the ordeal of the players was over, and it thanked the ICC unequivocally. “Cricket West Indies wishes to inform that, as of today, Saturday, 14 March 2026, all players and members of the Team Management Unit (TMU) who were part of the West Indies Men’s squad at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India have returned home safely.

“Following the previously outlined challenges relating to cancellations of chartered flights coordinated by the International Cricket Council (ICC), commercial travel was successfully secured for the members of the squad earlier this week. The final group of players and support staff completed their journeys over the past several days and have now safely arrived at their respective destinations.

“Cricket West Indies extends its sincere appreciation to the ICC, regional cricket boards, and other stakeholders who assisted in facilitating the safe return of the team. We also thank West Indies fans and the wider cricketing community for their concern and well-wishes.

“The well-being and safety of our players and staff remain paramount, and we are grateful that the matter has now been brought to a safe and satisfactory conclusion,” the release read.

The West Indies had had a good T20 World Cup until they were beaten by South Africa and India back-to-back in the Super 8s.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah emphasized that no team is bigger than the organization, reflecting on the recent T20 World Cup’s success despite pre-tournament uncertainties. He highlighted shattered viewership records and congratulated associate teams for their strong performances. Shah also urged India’s captain and coach to maintain their winning momentum and plan for future tournaments.

Jay Shah has stressed that no team is bigger than the organisation while reflecting on the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which witnessed several controversies and uncertainties before the tournament began. Speaking at an awards ceremony in Mumbai, Shah said the tournament held special significance because of the doubts and discussions surrounding participation from certain teams in the lead-up to the event.“This ICC World Cup was very important because there was a lot of chatter before the start of the tournament about whether certain teams would participate and how the World Cup would go ahead,” Shah said.

Without naming any specific country, the ICC chairman made it clear that the global governing body is larger than any individual team.“As ICC chairman, I can say that no team is bigger than the organisation and no single team makes an organisation. An organisation is a combination of all teams.”

Tournament faced early uncertainty

The build-up to the World Cup saw multiple controversies. Bangladesh national cricket team eventually withdrew from the competition citing security concerns, while Pakistan national cricket team had earlier threatened to boycott their high-profile clash against India national cricket team.Despite the challenges, the tournament went ahead successfully and eventually concluded with India lifting the trophy.World Cup shatters viewership recordsShah also highlighted the massive global response to the tournament, revealing that the event broke several viewership records.“The World Cup has shattered all viewership records. For the first time in history, we recorded 7.2 million concurrent viewers. All records were broken in overall viewership, The USA gave India a hard time, the Netherlands troubled Pakistan, Zimbabwe beat Australia and Nepal gave England a scare. I congratulate all the associate teams, they have done very well against the full members.” – Jay Shah Said

During the event, Shah also addressed India’s victorious captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, urging them to maintain their success and plan for the future.“I have a message for Surya and Gautam Bhai – slipping from the top to the bottom takes only months, while climbing from the bottom to the top takes years. Keep working hard and keep winning awards. When I was in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), I had planned till the 2028 Olympics. Now I am in the ICC and others are in charge at the BCCI. All of you should prepare for 2030, 2031 and even 2036.”Shah’s legacy during BCCI tenureBefore becoming ICC chairman, Shah served as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from October 2019 to December 2024.During that period, Indian cricket enjoyed a successful run across formats and age-group competitions, including:India won two U-19 Men’s World Cups, two U-19 Women’s World Cups, finished runners-up twice in the ICC World Test Championship, were runners-up in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and won two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup titles as well as the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.

A new-look South Africa national cricket team scythed through New Zealand national cricket team’s batting lineup to comfortably win Sunday’s first Twenty20 international by seven wickets, with 20 balls to spare. The visitors’ seam attack proved unplayable early on as World Cup finalists New Zealand were reduced to 36-5 before being dismissed for 91 in the 15th over, their 10th lowest total in T20s.South Africa eased to 93-3 in response, with opener Connor Esterhuizen’s unbeaten 45 off 48 balls ensuring they would claim early honours in the five-match series.

The 24-year-old was one of four South African players making their international debut in any format, alongside Rubin Hermann, Dian Forrester and Nqobani Mokoena.Teenage pace bowler Mokoena impressed with the ball, exploiting unpredictable bounce at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui to take 3-26 off 3.3 overs.The 19-year-old ripped through New Zealand’s tail to ensure they didn’t push their total past 100.“It was quite cool making my debut. I just went out there and enjoyed it,” Mokoena, 19, said.“The whole team was backing me and I was quite excited for it.“I just stuck to my plans and thank God it came off.”Fellow pacemen Gerald Coetzee and Ottneil Baartman took two wickets each for South Africa.The match came a week after New Zealand were beaten by India national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.Only captain Mitchell Santner and allrounder James Neesham were retained, with most of New Zealand’s leading players rested.Santner was the pick of their bowlers, taking 1-8 off four overs while Neesham top-scored with 26 before he was Mokoena’s first victim.South Africa’s last match was their World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand.The only Proteas survivor from that match was spinner Keshav Maharaj, who is captain for this series and played his 50th T20 international.Game two is in Hamilton on Tuesday.