Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana

LUCKNOW: Two world champions from different sporting arenas — Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana — were on Saturday named Sportspersons of the Year at the eighth edition of the The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) in Lucknow.In a glittering ceremony attended by top athletes and dignitaries, pistol shooter Rana and India women’s cricket vice-captain Mandhana were honoured for their exceptional performances in 2025. Both athletes delivered standout campaigns, dominating their respective disciplines and emerging as the finest performers of the year.Mandhana played a defining role in Indian cricket history, helping the team clinch their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final, with Mandhana contributing significantly throughout the tournament. She scored 434 runs to finish as the second-highest run-getter and also smashed a breathtaking 50-ball century against England — the second-fastest hundred in women’s international cricket.Her dominance extended beyond the World Cup. Over the course of the year, Mandhana became the first woman to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year and equalled the record for most ODI centuries in a year with five. She also achieved major career milestones, crossing 4,000 T20I runs and going past 10,000 international runs — becoming only the second Indian after Mithali Raj to reach the landmark.Rana’s historic rise in shootingWhile Mandhana shone on the cricket field, Samrat Rana scripted history in shooting. The 21-year-old became India’s first world champion in the 10m air pistol event, marking a breakthrough moment in his career. At the ISSF World Championships 2025, Rana delivered a sensational performance, winning two gold medals — in individual and team events — along with a silver in the mixed team competition alongside Esha Singh.With this feat, Rana joined an elite list of Indian shooting world champions that includes Abhinav Bindra and Rudrankksh Patil. He capped off his remarkable season with a bronze medal at the Doha World Cup Final, underlining his consistency at the highest level.Celebrating a landmark year for Indian sportThe eighth edition of TOISA celebrated India’s sporting excellence across more than 45 categories, recognising performances between January 1 and December 31, 2025. The awards highlighted a year filled with historic achievements, including India’s success in global cricket tournaments, athletics and para sports.The winners were selected by a distinguished jury comprising legends such as Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Leander Paes and Devendra Jhajharia.

NEW DELHI: Team India’s left-handed batter Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL 2026 season, as there is yet no clarity on when Pat Cummins will link up with the squad. TimesofIndia.com reliably understands that the SRH management has had a discussion in this regard, and Kishan has been identified as the most suitable candidate to have the armband in the Australian fast bowler’s absence.

Ishan’s stocks are on a bull run at the moment. The 27-year-old has had a brilliant T20 World Cup campaign, where he became the toast of the nation for his performances, initially as a top-order batter and then at No. 3 when Sanju Samson returned to the Playing XI.

Ishan Kishan’s performance in last IPL

Kishan has established himself as one of the most explosive wicketkeeper-batters in the IPL. Across 119 matches in the tournament, playing for three franchises including Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has scored 2,998 runs from 112 innings at an average of 29.10 and a strike rate of 137.64. His tally includes one century, 17 half-centuries, 288 fours and 134 sixes, underlining his aggressive batting style. Behind the stumps, Kishan has also contributed with 59 catches and five stumpings. In the 2025 season, his first after being picked for Rs 11.25 crore in the auction, he scored 354 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 152.58, including a century and a fifty.

Kishan’s heroics in T20 World Cup 2026

Kishan played a key role for the India national cricket team during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, finishing as India’s second-highest run-scorer with 317 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate above 193. His campaign included three half-centuries, including one in the final, helping India clinch the title. Speaking after the victory, he said, “Our team won, obviously, it is a very good thing, not only for us, but for the whole nation. We hope to continue playing cricket like this and keep winning.” He added, “It feels great because I believe the better I perform, the more motivation it will be for the young kids here who want to grow. I always try to ensure as many players as possible emerge from every corner. Now that we’ve played the World Cup, it shows that with hard work, you can succeed from anywhere.” On his future goals, Kishan said, “Nothing much, just keep scoring runs, keep playing, and keep winning.”

File Pic: Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni

NEW DELHI: India’s historic T20 World Cup triumph not only thrilled fans worldwide but also triggered a rare social media moment involving two of the country’s most iconic cricket figures — MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Shortly after India sealed a dominant 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final, Dhoni returned to Instagram after nearly two years to congratulate the team and support staff. The former India captain, who attended the final in Ahmedabad, couldn’t resist making a playful remark about Gambhir’s famously intense personality.

“History gets created at Ahmedabad, big congratulations to the team and support staff and to all the fans of the Indian Cricket Team worldwide. Such a pleasure to see all of you play,” Dhoni wrote.But it was his cheeky comment on Gambhir that quickly went viral.“Coach Sahab smile looks great on you, intensity with smile is a killer combo, very well done. Enjoy guys… Bumrah ke baare mein kuch na likhoon toh hi achha hai. Champion bowler,” Dhoni added, praising India’s pace spearhead while referencing Gambhir’s typically serious demeanour. Gambhir, who served as head coach during India’s successful title run, responded warmly to Dhoni’s message.“And what a reason to smile, great seeing you,” Gambhir wrote in reply, acknowledging the former captain’s presence at the stadium.

The exchange captured the attention of fans, given the pair’s long history in Indian cricket. Gambhir was a crucial member of Dhoni’s World Cup-winning sides, playing match-defining knocks in both the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup finals.Sunday’s final produced another memorable chapter in India’s white-ball legacy. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India piled up a formidable 255/5 after explosive contributions from Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma.The bowlers then sealed the emphatic victory, with Jasprit Bumrah producing a sensational spell of 4 for 15.

India’s Sanju Samson (C) celebrates with his coach Gautam Gambhir (L) after their team’s win in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup final match against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. (AFP)

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir, in the truest sense, is a Delhi boy. He wears his heart on his sleeve.And you cannot even blame him for it. There is a saying in Delhi cricket that playing for India is much easier than playing for Delhi. You have to be tough enough to survive in Delhi cricket’s ecosystem. Gambhir not only survived it, he also led Delhi to their Ranji Trophy triumph in 2007. He then went on to become one of India’s finest openers across formats.

Gambhir was India’s MVP in their two World Cup triumphs: the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. In both finals, he stepped up on the big occasion. Whether it was his 54-ball 75 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Johannesburg or the crafty 97 that steered India to victory in Mumbai four years later, Gambhir proved to be a force in ICC tournaments. Now, as a coach, he has added a World Cup to his resume. Not to forget the Champions Trophy and his IPL exploits as captain and mentor.Gambhir has always shown a stomach for a fight. He is often remembered for those two knocks in World Cup finals, but to truly understand Gambhir one has to look at his marathon knock in Napier in 2009. Gambhir batted for 643 minutes, over 10 hours, and faced 436 balls to score 137 and secure a draw for India.

Gautam Gambhir, Head Coach of India, looks on during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Final between India and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Stubbornness has been a defining characteristic of Gambhir and it has always been evident in his personality.There is a saying in Delhi cricket that if Gambhir trusts you, he will back you till the hilt.Before Suryakumar Yadav became the toast of Mumbai Indians, it was under Gambhir at KKR that he realised his pedigree and was made vice-captain of the Kolkata franchise. Surya has now become only the fourth Indian captain to win a World Cup.Sticking with Sanju Samson despite the batter not performing and continuing to back Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy—the two World No. 1s who were struggling in the World Cup—are just a few examples.

Gautam Gambhir Head Coach of India and Varun Chakravarthy of India during an India ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 net session at MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Chennai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

During KKR’s title run in 2024, he noticed Ramandeep Singh training in the gym while the others were celebrating their first win of the tournament. The next day, he spoke to Ramandeep, explained his batting role at No. 7 and 8, and assured him that he would play all the matches. Ramandeep proved pivotal in KKR’s campaign and the Punjab all-rounder even went on to play for India.Then there is Harshit Rana. The keyboard warriors kept their knives sharp, but Rana has grown in confidence and is now looking like a million-dollar investment. Although the Delhi pacer got injured before the start of India’s campaign, Gambhir finally had a bowler who could also swing those crucial 20 runs with the bat.There is an interesting story about Ayush Badoni as well. When Vijay Dahiya urged Gambhir to call Badoni for the Lucknow Super Giants trials, the current India coach drove down to a local ground where Badoni was practising and watched him silently for an hour. Badoni had no clue. Later that evening he received a call for the LSG trials. Now he too is on the fringes of the national team.Gambhir went to war with figures like the late Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan over Navdeep Saini. After watching him bowl for just 15 minutes, Gambhir decided Saini was a rare talent who needed to be groomed properly.“Kudos Navdeep Saini on your India debut. You already have two wickets even before you have bowled, @BishanBedi and @ChetanChauhanCr. Their middle stumps are gone seeing the debut of a player whose cricketing obituary they wrote even before he stepped on the field, shame!!” Gambhir had written in 2019 after the Delhi pacer made his India debut.Former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain and Delhi opener Unmukt Chand believes there is no one like Gambhir when it comes to injecting confidence into a cricketer.“If he supports someone, he truly backs that player. There are many examples. He made Suryakumar Yadav vice-captain. It was a very unusual thing to do back then. When you know you are valued so much in your team, your performance improves. Once the fear of failure is taken away, you thrive,” Unmukt had told TimesofIndia.com.Gambhir hardly smiles. His face rarely gives away what he is thinking or feeling. He has always been a man of few words.Former India coach Ravi Shastri, while calling India’s win, even teased the current India coach by saying, “Come on GG, show us that priceless smile of yours.”Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh made a reel with his coach saying, “Oh paaji kade has bhi liya karo yaar,” leaving Gambhir in splits.MS Dhoni, in his congratulatory post, also teased his former teammate: “Coach sahab, smile looks great on you. Intensity with a smile is a killer combo.”In that one line, Dhoni summed up the man who helped him win two World Cup finals. When the stakes are highest and the stage is a World Cup final, Gautam Gambhir has a habit of showing up. “The first thing is that the players have made me win. I have been saying this for a long time that you are as good a coach or as good a captain as your players. So I think credit needs to go to the players. The way, the professionalism and most importantly the bravery with which this tournament was played,” Gambhir said in a press conference after the win.As a player, he had the habit of turning the biggest nights into his own but after tasting World Cup glory for the first time as a coach, Gambhir stepped aside to let the players enjoy the spotlight.

Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav with the T20 World Cup trophy. (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes life has “come full circle” for Sanju Samson after the wicketkeeper-batter scripted one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Indian cricket during the team’s historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Samson, who began the tournament on the bench, emerged as the player of the tournament after producing three defining knocks in India’s knockout matches, including the semifinal against England and the final against New Zealand.Reflecting on Samson’s journey, Gavaskar said the Kerala batter had transformed adversity into the defining moment of his career.

“Life has come full circle for Sanju Samson,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “Before the 2026 T20 World Cup, he had a terrible series against New Zealand. He was dropped, then after the T20 World Cup started, he got a chance to play against Namibia, but his knock wasn’t enough to keep his spot.”Samson’s early struggles saw him sidelined again before India handed him another opportunity in the Super 8 stage.“He next played directly against Zimbabwe in the Super 8, but his real redemption began against West Indies in a virtual quarter-final,” Gavaskar explained.ALSO READ: ‘Samson is a combination of Kohli & Rohit’: Kumble after T20 WC masterclassThat innings sparked a sensational run. Samson followed up with a match-winning 97 not out against West Indies, an attacking 89 against England in the semifinal, and another 89 in the final against New Zealand, powering India to a commanding total before they sealed a crushing 96-run victory in Ahmedabad.Gavaskar emphasised that such performances in high-pressure situations define a cricketer’s legacy.“These games decide your fate and will define his career. Playing clutch knocks in high-pressure games takes something special,” he said.“To have the scar of failure and then play the best knocks of your career in three back-to-back high-pressure games — that is Sanju Samson.”The former India captain also highlighted the magnitude of India’s achievement in defending their world title.“Winning ICC trophies is not easy. Bilateral dominance is different. ICC tournaments have zero margin for error,” Gavaskar said. “Winning the T20 World Cup back-to-back is a massive achievement. This is the best moment in Indian cricket history.”

India vs Pakistan (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Ahmed Shehzad has sparked controversy by accusing the Board of Control for Cricket in India of not allowing the International Cricket Council to directly conduct doping tests on Indian players. His comments came during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, after India national cricket team had reached the semi-finals.Speaking on a Pakistani channel, Shehzad claimed that India handles its own anti-doping checks instead of relying on the ICC’s testing system.

He alleged that the Indian board prefers to conduct the tests itself because it does not trust outside technology. “ICC does the dope tests [sic] for the entire world except India. Their own board does it for them. Sir, they don’t give it to the ICC; they say we have our own board, which would determine. The Indians have said that we don’t trust any technology outside, we have good technology, so we would do the dope test for our own players,” Shehzad said.However, international cricket follows strict anti-doping rules based on the standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The ICC has been a signatory to the WADA Code since 2006, meaning players across the world are subject to strict testing rules.The ICC conducts both in-competition and out-of-competition tests, often without prior notice. Specially trained officers collect blood or urine samples, which are split into two parts called “A” and “B” samples and tested at WADA-accredited laboratories. If the first sample shows a banned substance, the player is provisionally suspended and can request the second sample to be tested. If the result is confirmed, the player can face a long ban from cricket.Meanwhile, the BCCI’s anti-doping system works under National Anti-Doping Agency, which the board joined in 2019. Since NADA also follows WADA rules, Indian players are still tested under the same global anti-doping standards used in international sport.