The eighth edition of the Tech Word News Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held in Lucknow on March 21, 2026, celebrating the achievements and inspiring journeys of India’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. The ceremony will honour performances delivered between January 1 and December 31, 2025, recognising standout displays at major international tournaments and world championships. With more than 45 award categories — including several dedicated to para sports — the event will highlight both established stars and emerging talents who brought pride to the nation over the past year.Winners will be chosen by a distinguished jury featuring some of India’s most celebrated sporting figures, including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal and Leander Paes, ensuring a credible and expert evaluation of excellence in sport.
IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain
The past year witnessed several landmark moments in Indian sport. In cricket, the India women’s national cricket team clinched their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title at home, while the India national cricket team lifted both the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. The India women’s blind cricket team also scripted history by winning the inaugural Women’s Blind Cricket T20 World Cup.Here are the nominees for the cricket category at TOISA 2025:CRICKET – MALEShubman 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 SharmaDate of Birth: September 4, 2000Place of Birth: Amritsar, PunjabSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ACC Asia Cup: Winners – Player of the Tournament (314 runs)T20I stats in 2025: 859 runs in 21 matches | HS 135 | Ave. 42.95 | SR 193.46 | 1 Hundred | 5 FiftiesAbhishek Sharma scaled new heights in 2025, rising to the No. 1 spot in the ICC men’s T20I rankings and becoming the youngest Indian to achieve the feat. He also registered the highest-ever rating points in men’s T20I history, touching 931. His year was headlined by a blistering 135 off 54 balls against England — the highest individual score by an Indian in men’s T20Is — an innings studded with 13 sixes and seven fours. It featured the second-fastest half-century and century for India by balls faced, along with the most sixes by an Indian in a T20I innings.At the Asia Cup, Sharma dominated the charts, smashing a record 314 runs in seven innings — the most in a single edition — and was named Player of the Tournament for his match-winning exploits.Ravindra JadejaDate of Birth: December 6, 1988Place of Birth: Fazilka, PunjabSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC Champions Trophy 2025: WinnersTests stats in 2025:Batting – 764 runs in 10 matches | HS 107* | Ave. 63.66 | 2 hundreds | 6 fiftiesBowling – 25 wickets in 10 matches | Best 4/50 | Ave. 38.2 | Econ. 3.2ODI stats in 2025:Batting – 106 runs in 10 matches | HS 32 | Ave. 53.00 | SR 116.48Bowling – 12 wickets in 10 matches | Best 3/26 | Ave. 33.41 | Econ. 4.66Ravindra Jadeja enjoyed a remarkable 2025, producing standout performances particularly in the Test arena. The premier all-rounder emerged as India’s third-highest run-scorer in the format during the year, amassing 764 runs at an impressive average of 63.66, behind only Shubman Gill (983) and KL Rahul (813). With the ball, Jadeja was equally influential, finishing as India’s third-leading wicket-taker in Tests with 25 scalps, trailing Mohammed Siraj (43) and Jasprit Bumrah (31).Beyond the longest format, Jadeja also contributed significantly to India’s triumphant campaign at the ICC Champions Trophy, underlining his value across formats as one of the team’s most dependable all-rounders.KL RahulDate of Birth: April 18, 1992Place of Birth: Bengaluru, KarnatakaSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC Champions Trophy 2025: WinnersTest stats in 2025: 813 runs in 10 matches | HS 137 | Ave. 45.16 | 3 hundredsODI stats in 2025: 367 runs in 14 matches | HS 66* | Ave. 52.42 | SR 107.94 | 2 fiftiesKL Rahul made a telling impact in India’s victorious campaign at the ICC Champions Trophy, scoring 140 runs in four innings, including three unbeaten knocks. His composure in the middle order and reliability behind the stumps earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament as wicketkeeper-batter.However, Rahul’s finest returns came in Test cricket. In the away series against England, he amassed 532 runs in five matches at an average of 58.00, registering two centuries and two fifties. He followed that up with his 11th Test hundred — and only his second at home since 2016 — in the opening Test of the two-match series against the West Indies. In November, Rahul also stepped in as stand-in ODI captain against South Africa in the absence of the injured Shubman Gill, guiding India to a 2–1 series win. He finished 2025 as India’s second-highest run-scorer across formats with 1,180 runs, behind only Gill.Varun ChakaravarthyDate of Birth: August 29, 1991Place of Birth: Bidar, KarnatakaSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC Champions Trophy 2025: WinnersACC Asia Cup 2025: WinnersODI stats in 2025: 10 wickets in 4 matches | Best 5/42 | Ave. 19.0 | Econ. 4.75T20I stats in 2025: 36 wickets in 20 matches | Best 5/24 | Ave. 13.19 | Econ. 7.08Varun Chakaravarthy enjoyed a standout 2025, emerging as a key figure in India’s limited-overs success. At the ICC Champions Trophy, the mystery spinner finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps despite featuring in only three matches, underlining his impact in crucial games. His match-winning spells earned him a spot in the Team of the Tournament as India clinched the title. He carried that momentum into the Asia Cup, claiming seven wickets — joint second-highest for India — and playing an important role in another trophy-winning campaign.Across formats, Varun concluded the year as India’s second-leading wicket-taker with 46 wickets in 24 matches, trailing only his spin partner Kuldeep Yadav, reaffirming his status as a vital cog in India’s white-ball setup.Kuldeep YadavDate of Birth: December 14, 1994Place of Birth: Unnao, Uttar PradeshSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC Champions Trophy 2025: WinnersACC Asia Cup 2025: WinnersTest stats in 2025: 20 wickets in 4 matches | Best 5/82 | Ave. 23.15 | Econ. 3.47ODI stats in 2025: 19 wickets in 11 matches | Best 4/41 | Ave. 29.0 | Econ. 5.28T20I stats in 2025: 21 wickets in 10 matches | Best 4/7 | Ave. 10.23 | Econ. 7.04Kuldeep Yadav enjoyed a sensational 2025, finishing as India’s highest wicket-taker across formats with 60 scalps in 25 matches. The wrist-spinner played a vital role in India’s triumphant campaigns at the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. At the Champions Trophy, he claimed seven wickets in five games, delivering crucial breakthroughs during the title run.However, it was at the Asia Cup where Kuldeep truly dazzled. He topped the tournament’s wicket-taking charts with a remarkable 17 wickets in just seven matches, far ahead of the next best tally of 10 by Shaheen Afridi. Though he narrowly missed out on the Player of the Tournament award — which went to teammate Abhishek Sharma for his record 314 runs — Kuldeep’s match-winning spells were central to India’s title-winning campaign.CRICKET – FEMALESmriti 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.Pratika RawalDate of Birth: September 1, 2000Place of Birth: DelhiSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC ODI World Cup 2025: WinnerODI stats in 2025: 976 runs in 21 matches | Ave. 51.36 | SR 83.99 | 2 hundredsPratika Rawal made a dream start to her international career after debuting for India in December 2024, rapidly emerging as one of the brightest young stars in women’s cricket. She became the third-fastest Indian (by matches) to score a maiden ODI century and only the third Indian woman to breach the 150-run mark in ODIs. Rawal also set a new benchmark for the most runs in a batter’s first six ODI innings (444), surpassing former England captain Charlotte Edwards. She became the fastest to 500 ODI runs in terms of innings (eight) and later the joint-fastest to 1,000 runs (23 innings).At the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Rawal underlined her big-match temperament with a century against New Zealand in a must-win clash. She was the tournament’s leading run-scorer at one stage with 308 runs from seven matches before an ankle injury in a rain-hit game against Bangladesh ruled her out of the final. India went on to lift the title, with Rawal joining her teammates on the field to celebrate a memorable triumph.Jemimah RodriguesDate of Birth: September 5, 2000Place of Birth: Mumbai, MaharashtraSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC ODI World Cup 2025: WinnerODI stats in 2025: 771 runs in 20 matches | Ave. 51.4 | SR 105.18 | 3 hundredsT20I stats in 2025: 212 runs in 8 matches | Ave. 35.33 | SR 133.33 | 2 fiftiesJemimah Rodrigues enjoyed a stunning 2025, highlighted by several landmark performances on the global stage. On 12 January, she scored her maiden century in a WODI during the home series against Ireland in Rajkot. Later, in the tri-nation WODI series in Sri Lanka in May, she amassed 245 runs in four innings.Her finest hour came at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she played a pivotal role in India’s historic title triumph. In the semi-final, Rodrigues struck a magnificent unbeaten 127 to steer India to a record 339-run chase against Australia — their first World Cup defeat since 2017. She stitched a match-winning 167-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, powering India to the highest successful run chase in WODI history and earning the Player of the Match award. India went on to defeat South Africa by 52 runs in the final to clinch their maiden World Cup crown.Deepti SharmaDate of Birth: August 24, 1997Place of Birth: Agra, Uttar PradeshSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC ODI World Cup 2025: Winner – Player of the TournamentODI stats in 2025:Batting – 596 runs in 23 matches | Ave. 49.66 | SR 98.18 | 6 fiftiesBowling – 39 wickets in 23 matches | Ave. 27.1 | Econ. 5.12 | 1 FiferT20I stats in 2025:Batting – 143 runs in 17 matches | Ave. 14.3 | SR 113.49Bowling – 22 wickets in 17 matches | Ave. 23.22 | Econ. 7.8Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup after delivering one of the greatest all-round campaigns in the event’s history. Across nine matches, she scored 215 runs and claimed 22 wickets, becoming the first cricketer — male or female — to achieve the rare double of 200 runs and 20 wickets in a single World Cup edition. Her standout performance in the final in Mumbai was particularly significant, helping India seal the title.Shafali VermaDate of Birth: January 28, 2004Place of Birth: Rohtak, HaryanaSport: CricketMajor Achievements in 2025:ICC ODI World Cup 2025: Winner – Player of the Match in FinalODI stats in 2025: 97 runs in 2 matches | Ave. 48.5 | SR 116.86 | 1 fiftyT20I stats in 2025: 417 runs in 10 matches | Ave. 52.12 | SR 170.9 | 4 fiftiesShafali Verma played a decisive role in India’s triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Drafted into the squad for the semi-final against Australia as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, Shafali rose to the occasion in the final against South Africa. She top-scored with a fluent 87 off 78 balls, laying the foundation for India’s imposing total of 298 in 50 overs. She then made an impact with the ball, claiming two crucial wickets at a key stage of the decider to swing the momentum India’s way, earning the Player of the Match award for her all-round brilliance.Beyond the World Cup, Shafali also dominated the T20I format in 2025, finishing as India’s leading run-scorer for the year with 417 runs.
