2025 was a year of remarkable breakthroughs across the sporting world, with young athletes emerging to challenge records and redefine expectations. From record sprints and historic javelin throws to tactical brilliance on the chessboard and squash courts, these prodigies have demonstrated exceptional skill and composure under pressure.
Football fans witnessed dazzling goals and talent, while athletics and darts saw teenagers win titles and set new benchmarks. Rising stars in India have been making waves internationally, climbing the charts and delivering memorable performances. In badminton, tennis and Formula 1, young competitors announced themselves on the world stage with best positions and historic milestones.
As 2026 approaches, these athletes carry the momentum of 2025, promising exciting displays, breakthrough victories and inspirational moments. With talent, determination and fearlessness, this next generation is poised to leave a lasting impact on the world of sports.
Here are 10 players to target in 2026
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (cricket)
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is emerging as one of the most extraordinary young sporting talents in the world and an outstanding prospect for 2026. At just 14 years of age, he has already rewritten the record books with his fearless batting. He smashed 190 off 84 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to become the youngest List A centurion, propelling Bihar to a record 574 for six.
He also owns youth milestones including India’s fastest U-19 century and fastest 150 in List A cricket. In IPL 2025, Suryavanshi became the youngest centurion with a hundred off 35 balls. Honored with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, he looks destined for greatness.
Sachin Yadav (Athletics)
After a breakout year in 2025, Sachin Yadav has emerged as one of India’s most promising young athletes and one to watch in 2026. The 25-year-old javelin thrower from Uttar Pradesh won gold at the National Games in Dehradun with a record 84.39m and followed it up with the Federation Cup title.
He made his mark internationally by winning silver on his debut at the Asian Athletics Championships and clearing the 85m mark. Sachin then produced and career best 86.27m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyohe finished fourth and underlined his potential to challenge the best in the world.
Divya Deshmukh (Chess)
Divya Deshmukh has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents to watch in 2026 after a historic breakthrough year in 2025. At just 19, she won the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, defeating Konera Humpy to become the first Indian woman to win the title.
The triumph also earned her the Grandmaster title, making her only the fourth Indian GM. Divya finished the year among the top female players in the world with an Elo above 2500 and held the top spot in the junior rankings worldwide. Her composure under pressure and rapid rise signal a bright future.
Anahat Singh (squash)
Anahat Singh has established herself as one of India’s most promising young squash talents, with 2025 being her breakout year. She made history by winning bronze at the World Junior Squash Championships, becoming the first Indian girl in over a decade to reach the semi-finals.
On the professional circuit, she secured several PSA Challenger titles and climbed the world rankings, defeating even higher-ranked opponents. She also won the SRFI Indian Open and showed tactical maturity and resilience. With its rapid progress, technical skills and mental strength, Anahat is ready to take on the world’s elite and make 2026 the next milestone.
Mirra Andreeva (tennis)
After a stunning breakthrough on the WTA Tour, Andreeva has become one of the most exciting young stars in women’s tennis and an outstanding prospect for 2026. At just 18, she won multiple titles in 2025, including triumphs at the WTA 1000 in Dubai and Indian Wells, becoming the youngest player to win tournaments at this level.
Her run at Indian Wells was historic, defeating world number two Iga Swiatek and world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the same tournament. Andreeva’s strength and poise have catapulted her to a career-high world number six, marking her as a future Grand Slam candidate.
Vaishnavi Sharma (cricket)
Vaishnavi Sharma has emerged as one of India’s most exciting young cricketers and an outstanding prospect for 2026. The orthodox left-armer from Gwalior made a name for herself in 2025 after finishing as the leading wicket-taker at the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in India, where she played a key role in the 17 title fight.
She made history by becoming the first Indian woman to take a hat-trick in the tournament and returned sensational figures of 5/5 against Malaysia. Vaishnavi carried that form into domestic cricket, topping the Senior Women’s T20 wicket-taking charts and earning her senior debut for India against Sri Lanka.
Animesh Kujur (Athletics)
Animesh Kujur has emerged as one of India’s most exciting young athletes after a breakthrough year in 2025 and a star to watch in 2026. The 22-year-old sprinter from Chhattisgarh broke several national records and became the first Indian to run the 100m in under 10.20 seconds with a time of 10.18m, also in a national record of 20.18s 20.32s.
He won bronze at the Asian Athletics Championships and helped India’s 4100m relay set a national record. Kujur became the first Indian sprinter to qualify for the World Championships through world rankings, signaling huge global potential.
Tanvi Sharma (Badminton)
Tanvi Sharma is shaping up to be one of the most exciting young talents in world badminton and a star to watch in 2026. The 16-year-old from Hoshiarpur, Punjab rose to world junior number one in girls’ singles in 2025, underscoring her dominance on the junior circuit.
Her breakthrough came with a runner-up finish at the BWF US Open Super 300, making her the youngest Indian to reach a World Tour final. Tanvi also won silver in the girls’ event singles and mixed team bronze at the World Junior Championships, ending India’s long medal drought. With strong results at senior level, she also looks destined for the top.
Joao Fonseca (tennis)
Joao Fonseca is shaping up to be one of the most exciting tennis prospects heading into 2026, fueled by rapid rise and breakthrough success. Born in 2006, he became the youngest Brazilian to win an ATP title at the 2025 Argentina Open and the first of his generation to lift the trophy on tour.
Fonseca has impressed on a variety of surfaces, beating top 10 players such as Andrey Rublev at the 2025 Australian Open and recording his first victory on grass at Eastbourne. His breakthrough continued with an ATP 500 title in Basel, pushing him into the Top 30. Backed by Roger Federer, Fonseca is considered one to watch for his talent and mindset.
JJ Gabriel (football)
JJ Gabriel is emerging as one of football’s most exciting young talents and an excellent prospect to watch in 2026. The 15-year-old striker from Manchester United’s academy has risen rapidly through the elite youth systems after spells with Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham.
In April 2025, he made history as United’s youngest under-18 player, scoring twice on his debut and later becoming the youngest goalscorer in FA Youth Cup history. Prolific this season, Gabriel is known for his dazzling dribbling and sharp finishing. Already invited to train with United’s first team and signed with Nike, he is attracting a lot of attention as a future star.
Gabriel Bortoleto (Formula 1)
After a breakout rookie season in Formula One, Gabriel Bortoleto has emerged as one of motorsport’s most exciting young talents and one to watch in 2026. After winning back-to-back FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships, the Brazilian secured a race seat with Kick Sauber (later Audi) for 2025.
He scored his first F1 points at the Austrian Grand Prix and finished sixth in Hungary, impressing in a midfield car. Off the track, Bortoleto promoted road safety initiatives with the FIA and the Brazilian government. His rapid rise, racing prowess and composure mark him as a future F1 star.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 1, 2026
