The narrative of Sanju Samson’s career has often been one of ‘what ifs’ and ‘could have beens.’ However, as the dust settles on India’s triumphant 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, that narrative has shifted toward a definitive ‘finally.’ Among those celebrating loudest is Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and a long-time mentor figure to the Kerala wicketkeeper, who recently reflected on a prophecy made over a decade ago.

Shashi Tharoor recalls spotting 14-year-old Sanju Samson as Gautam Gambhir’s prophecy gains attention

Tharoor’s connection with Samson dates back to when the cricketer was just a 14-year-old prodigy. Even then, the talent was undeniable. Tharoor recalled telling the teenager that he was destined to be the next MS Dhoni. It was a heavy mantle to place on young shoulders, but it spoke to the sheer calibre of Samson’s natural ability.

However, it was a conversation with current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir that provided the necessary perspective. As Tharoor reminisced about his early prediction, Gambhir known for his blunt and individualistic approach offered a correction that has now become legendary. Gambhir insisted that Samson didn’t need to be the next anyone; he was destined to be the first and only ‘Sanju Samson’.

“I’ve been a sort of uncle to him, I think, in some ways, because I met him when he was 14. I gave him a lot of encouragement. I may not be the most qualified cricket fan to do so, but I told him when he was 14 that he was going to be the next MS Dhoni. And when I recall those words some years later, my friend Gautam Gambir said he doesn’t have to be the next anybody, he’s going to be the first one and only Sanju Samson, and that’s how it has turned out to be,” Tharoor stated to ANI.

This prophecy reached its zenith during the 2026 T20 World Cup. Coming into the side during the high-pressure knockout stages, Samson displayed a level of maturity that had previously eluded him on the international stage. With 321 runs across five matches, including three consecutive half-centuries, he wasn’t just a participant; he was the engine room of the Indian batting lineup. Being named Player of the Tournament wasn’t just an accolade, it was the validation of Gambhir’s belief that Samson’s identity was unique and peerless.

Also READ: Former batter picks the ideal top-order of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2026

Samson’s new chapter: The CSK connection and ODI aspirations

While the T20 glory is still fresh, the cricketing world is already buzzing about Samson’s next move. On March 19, 2026, Samson arrived at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) training camp, marking the first time he will share an IPL dressing room with Dhoni. The sight of the two wicketkeepers in deep conversation sent social media into a frenzy, symbolizing a passing of the torch moment, even as Samson continues to carve his own path.

Tharoor, ever the advocate for his ‘nephew,’ believes this momentum should carry Samson back into the 50-over format. He pointed out the irony of Samson’s ODI hiatus, noting that his last appearance in the format featured a brilliant century before he was sidelined.

” This was somebody who seemed relentlessly focused, calm and composed, on top of his game. Nothing was allowed to disturb him. There was poetry in motion, I tell you, it was a joy watching him bat. And from here I want to see him getting back into the ODI squad as well. After all, don’t forget that his last innings in ODI cricket was a century, and they dropped him after that. So, let’s give him a chance again,,” Tharoor added regarding Samson’s recent form, urging selectors to show the same faith in the ODI setup that reaped such massive rewards in the T20 World Cup.

As the IPL 2026 season kicks off, Samson is no longer chasing shadows or comparisons. Under the guidance of Gambhir in the national colours and now alongside Dhoni in the yellow of CSK, the man from Kerala has finally arrived, not as a successor, but as a singular force in world cricket.

Also READ: MS Dhoni omitted! Irfan Pathan picks his ideal Chennai Super Kings lineup for IPL 2026

In a bid to cool rising oil prices amid the ongoing Middle East crisis the Trump administration has begun releasing crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), lending 45.2 million barrels to energy companies in its first round. The volume released so far represents just over half of the 86 million barrels the administration had earlier said it would make available in the initial phase. The broader plan is to lend a total of 172 million barrels, with deliveries scheduled through this year and into the next, according to Reuters.The Energy Department said that firms awarded these early supplies include BP Products North America, Gunvor USA, Marathon Petroleum and Shell Trading. Other companies that secured contracts by Friday are Energy Transfer Crude Marketing, Mercuria Energy America, Trafigura Trading and Vitol.This release forms part of a wider coordinated effort involving 32 countries under the International Energy Agency, which together plan to inject 400 million barrels of oil into the market. Prices have climbed to their highest levels in four years following the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, marking the steepest surge since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The arrangement operates as a loan rather than a sale, with companies required to return the crude along with additional barrels as a premium. The Energy Department said the system is intended to steady markets “at no cost to American taxpayers.”Companies must repay between 18% and 22% more oil than they borrow, although some bidders offered higher returns to secure allocations. For the first tranche alone, the structure is expected to boost the reserve by nearly 10 million barrels once repayments are made.The SPR, stored in underground sites along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, currently holds about 415 million barrels of crude, equivalent to more than four days of global consumption.Overall, while 172 million barrels are set to be lent out, the government expects to receive roughly 200 million barrels in return, factoring in the additional premium.Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said that he would tap into strategic reserves to reduce prices amid the ongoingIran war.“Right now we’ll reduce it a little bit and that brings the prices down,” Trump said in an interview with Local 12 television, when asked if he was going to tap the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

TOAST OF A NATION: The women’s team’s ODI World Cup victory was the high point for Indian sport in 2025 (Photo: Getty Images)

Lucknow: The biggest names in Indian sport will once again gather under one roof as the much-anticipated Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) returns to Lucknow for the third consecutive time on Saturday, celebrating the inspiring journeys and achievements of the country’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will grace the occasion as a guest and hand over the trophies honouring achievers and emerging stars who made the nation proud over the past year. The event will be attended by sporting legends like PT Usha, Leander Paes, Mithali Raj, Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil and Sardar Singh, and other top athletes, coaches, administrators and guests from across the country, making it one of the most prestigious sporting evenings of the year. This edition of TOISA will recognise athletes across more than 45 categories, honouring performances during the Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2025 evaluation period. The wide range of categories ensures that excellence across mainstream as well as emerging sports disciplines is duly acknowledged. Having begun in 2015, TOISA completes a decade, and a special section will honour the best players of the past 10 years. Besides, there will be a special segment on the best player of the year from UP. For the last decade, para players have shown their mettle on fields and courts, bringing several laurels to the nation. To felicitate their talent, TOISA has 13 categories dedicated to para sports. A distinguished jury comprising eminent Indian sporting personalities — Abhinav Bindra, the country’s first individual Olympic gold medallist; tennis legend and Olympic medallist Leander Paes; PR Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic medallist; Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist; Mithali Raj, one of the greatest names in women’s cricket with over 10,000 international runs; and Sharath Kamal, India’s most decorated table tennis player with 13 Commonwealth Games medals — will select the winners. The jury faces a tough task in choosing from a star-studded list of nominees, as the past year witnessed several landmark achievements. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra continued his remarkable run on the global stage with outstanding performances in the Diamond League, while shooter Samrat Rana clinched three medals, including two golds, at the World Shooting Championships held in Cairo, Egypt. Lakshya Sen has been one of India’s top performers in badminton for quite some time now. He recently contested the final of the All England Championships. The young shuttler is cruising towards etching his name among the game’s elite. Indian cricket also enjoyed a historic year. The India women’s national cricket team lifted their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title on home soil, while the India men’s team captured both the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. Smriti Mandhana’s World Cup-winning feat and her own performance were exceptional this year. She played a pivotal role in India’s historic win, scoring 434 runs overall, the maximum by any player. The Indian vice-captain scored a blistering 109-run innings against New Zealand and an 80-run innings against Australia, along with a crucial 45 runs in the final against South Africa. Another peach of a performance came from Deepti Sharma. This Agra girl’s all-round performance bagged her the Player of the Tournament award as well. In another remarkable feat, the India women’s blind cricket team became the first-ever champions of the Women’s Blind Cricket T20 World Cup. Beyond cricket, the India men’s hockey team triumphed at the Asia Cup, securing qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup. Indian para-athletes also shone brightly at the World Para Athletics Championships, returning with a rich haul. Promising athletes like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in cricket, Divya Deshmukh in chess, and Tanvi Sharma in badminton emerged as stars of the future. Through these honours, TOISA continues its mission of celebrating India’s sporting heroes, whose grit, dedication and excellence inspire India.

TOISA NOMINATIONS

Here are the nominees shortlisted for various categories by the illustrious TOISA jury, which includes icons like Abhinav Bindra, Mithali Raj and Leander Paes… BADMINTON (MALE) Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kiran George, Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy BADMINTON (FEMALE) Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Tressa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand CRICKET (MALE) Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav CRICKET (FEMALE) Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma ATHLETICS (MALE) Neeraj Chopra, Animesh Kujur, Gulveer Singh, Sachin Yadav ATHLETICS (FEMALE) Parul Chaudhary, Rupal Chaudhary, Jyothi Yarraji, Pooja Singh EQUESTRIAN Ashish Limaye, Shruti Vora, Divyakriti Singh HOCKEY (MALE) Abhishek Nain, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas HOCKEY (FEMALE) Udita Duhan, Navneet Kaur, Mumtaz Khan, Rutuja Pisal SHOOTING (MALE) Samrat Rana, Ravinder Singh, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Anish, Varun Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil SHOOTING (FEMALE) Suruchi Inder Singh, Simranpreet Kaur, Esha Singh, Elavenil Valarivan, Sift Kaur Samra, Manu Bhaker CHESS (MALE) R Praggnanandhaa, Aravindh Chithambaram, P Iniyan, Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi CHESS (FEMALE) Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, Nandhidhaa PV ARCHERY (MALE) Dhiraj Bommadevara, Abhishek Verma, Atanu Das, Prathamesh Fuge, Rishabh Yadav ARCHERY (FEMALE) Ankita Bhakat, Jyothi Surekha, Deepika Kumari, Prithika Pradeep BILLIARDS/SNOOKER Pankaj Advani, Aditya Mehta, Brijesh Damani WEIGHTLIFTING (MALE) Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Dilbag Singh, Lovepreet Singh WEIGHTLIFTING (FEMALE) Mirabai Chanu, Mehak Sharma, Bindyarani Devi WRESTLING (MALE) Sunil Kumar, Nitesh, Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal WRESTLING (FEMALE) Antim Panghal, Manisha, Nisha Dahiya SQUASH (MALE) Abhay Singh, Saurav Ghosal, Velavan Senthilkumar, Mahesh Mangaonkar SQUASH (FEMALE) Anahat Singh, Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal Karthik, Tanvi Khanna TABLE TENNIS (MALE) Manav Thakkar, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Harmeet Desai, Payas Jain TABLE TENNIS (FEMALE) Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, Ayhika Mukherjee TENNIS (MALE) Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Sumit Nagal TENNIS (FEMALE) Ankita Raina, Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli FOOTBALL (MALE) Subhasish Bose, Sunil Chhetri, Vishal Kaith, Brison Fernandes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu FOOTBALL (FEMALE) Soumya Guguloth, Grace Dangmei, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa KABADDI Sanju Devi, Pawan Sehrawat, Ritu Negi, Arjun Deshwal BOXING (MALE) Sachin Siwach, Hitesh Gulia, Pawan Bartwal, Ankush Panghal BOXING (FEMALE) Minakshi Hooda, Jaismine Lamboria, Nikhat Zareen, Pooja Rani SAILING Vishnu Saravanan, Zahaan Hemrajani, Abhimanyu Panwar, Ghashiayah A COACH OF THE YEAR Amol Majumdar (Cricket), Suresh Singh (Shooting), Ashok Kumar Rana (Shooting) PARA ARCHERY (MALE) Harvinder Singh, Vivek Chikara, Rakesh Kumar, Shyam Sunder Swami PARA ARCHERY (FEMALE) Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag, Jyoti Baliyan PARA ATHLETICS (MALE) Sumit Antil, Shailesh Kumar, Sandeep Kumar, Nishad Kumar PARA ATHLETICS (FEMALE) Simran Sharma, Preethi Pal, Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji PARA BADMINTON (MALE) Pramod Bhagat, Sukant Kadam, Krishna Nagar PARA BADMINTON (FEMALE) Mandeep Kaur, Manasi Joshi, Nithya Sre PARA CHESS Vaibhav Gautam, Samarth J Rao, Venkata Krishna Karthik K PARA JUDO Kapil Parmar, Avidha Sharma, Rahul Rajora, Kokila PARA SHOOTING (MALE) Bhat Amir Ahmad, Nihal Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Rudransh Khandelwal PARA SHOOTING (FEMALE) Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara, Rubi Kumari EMERGING SPORTSPERSON Tanvi Sharma (Badminton), Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Shree Charani (Cricket), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Cricket) PARA SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR Sheetal Devi (Para Archery), Praveen Kumar (Para Athletics – High Jump), Preethi Pal (Para Athletics – Sprint), Sumit Antil (Para Athletics – Javelin) PARA COACH OF THE YEAR Dr. Satyapal Singh (Para Athletics), Subhash Rana (Para Shooting), Gaurav Khanna (Para Badminton), Sandhya Bharti (Para Taekwondo) TEAM OF THE YEAR India Women’s Cricket Team, India Men’s Cricket Team, India Men’s Hockey Team, India Men’s & Women’s Kabaddi Teams, India National Shooting Team, India Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind, India Squash Team, India Women’s Ice Hockey Team

The United States is rapidly increasing its military presence in the Middle East, deploying thousands of Marines and multiple warships in the region as tensions with Iran continue to rise during the ongoing war.Around 2,200–2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are being deployed aboard the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, according to Associated Press. This could take the number of additional US forces in the region to several thousand, on top of the nearly 50,000 troops already stationed in the Middle East.

Why is the US increasing its deployment?

The deployment comes nearly three weeks after the US and Israel launched a large-scale air campaign against Iran. Both sides have attacked one another with drone and missile attacks, including disruption in the functioning of the Strait of Hormuz.US officials say the additional forces are meant to boost operational readiness and provide options for future missions, including evacuation operations, securing sea routes or potential ground action if required.There are also discussions within the US administration about pressuring Iran by targeting key oil infrastructure.

USS Boxer: Floating assault base with air power

The USS Boxer, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is the lead vessel in this deployment and serves as a floating military base. Often described as a small aircraft carrier, it can operate F-35B stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters and MV-22 Osprey aircraft, giving it strong airstrike capability.Beyond aviation, its core role is to support amphibious assaults, allowing Marines to be deployed directly onto hostile shores, according to the war zone. The ship carries over 2,000 troops, along with equipment, landing craft and command systems, making it capable of launching and sustaining combat operations independently.

USS Portland: Troop transport and logistics backbone

The USS Portland, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, plays a key role in moving troops, vehicles and supplies. It is designed to carry more than 800 Marines along with heavy equipment and features a large flight deck that supports helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft like the MV-22 Osprey, MH-605 Seahawk helicopters and CH-53-E Super Stallion heavy-lift aircraft.The ship also includes a well deck to launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles, enabling forces to move from sea to shore efficiently. Its primary role is to act as a logistics and transport hub, ensuring sustained operations during extended missions.

USS Comstock: Landing support and amphibious operations

The USS Comstock, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, is focused on enabling amphibious landings. It is equipped to launch and recover landing craft, air-cushion vehicles and amphibious assault equipment, making it crucial for operations near coastlines.The vessel supports both combat and humanitarian missions and plays a vital role in delivering troops and supplies during operations. Its capabilities allow the US military to establish a strong foothold in coastal areas.The presence of these three ships together forms a powerful Amphibious Ready Group, capable of carrying out airstrikes, troop deployments and ground operations.Apart from the Boxer group, the US has also deployed the USS Tripoli, another amphibious assault ship carrying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from the Indo-Pacific region.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling nearly 20% of global oil trade. Any disruption in this region can have a major impact on global oil prices and energy security.

Which ships has been earlier deployed?

As part of the growing US military presence amid the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, several warships have been deployed in the Middle East.At the center of deployment comes USS Tripoli. It is an amphibious assault ship capable of transporting landing and supporting ground troops and their equipment on hostile or foreign shores.In addition to these amphibious vessels, the United States has also maintained a broader naval presence that includes aircraft carriers and other naval assets supporting operations in the region.

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The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has been active in the Arabian Sea and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford has been operating in adjacent waters in support of ongoing military actions.

New Delhi: In a significant development in the 1996 Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case, Delhi High Court on Thursday directed convict Santosh Singh to surrender on Monday, after the victim’s brother strongly opposed his plea for premature release. Justice Anup J Bhambhani issued the order after taking note of submissions by Hemant Mattoo, Priyadarshini’s elder brother and the last surviving member of the family. The court said it would consider Singh’s plea for remission only after he surrenders. Earlier in Jan, the court had issued notice to Hemant, noting that the “next of kin of the deceased/victim have not been intimated of the pendency of the present petition seeking premature release.” Singh, who was granted parole last year, has remained out of prison after securing extensions from the high court while his plea for remission is pending. Appearing in the matter for the first time after being asked by the court, Hemant—represented by advocate Urvika Suri—opposed the plea and said he wished to assist the court in explaining why the Sentence Review Board (SRB) was right in rejecting Singh’s request for premature release. Last year, a different high court bench had set aside the SRB’s decision, observing that Singh had shown signs of reform. The court noted that the SRB had relied only on the gravity, cruelty and perversity of the crime, and on objections raised by Delhi Police and the CBI. The bench had also noted that Singh was lodged in an open prison, allowing him to leave the prison complex daily between 8 am and 8 pm for work as a legal consultant—an indication, it said, of positive reformative conduct. Priyadarshini Mattoo, 25, was raped and murdered in Jan 1996. Singh, then a law student at Delhi University, was acquitted by a trial court in 1999. However, on Oct 27, 2006, Delhi High Court overturned the verdict, convicted him of rape and murder, and sentenced him to death. In Oct 2010, Supreme Court upheld the conviction but commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.

England’s white-ball stalwart Jos Buttler has addressed growing speculation around his international future following a disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. While the tournament exposed a rare dip in form for one of England’s most dependable performers, Buttler has made it clear that he is not ready to walk away from the international stage just yet.

Jos Buttler opens up on his future with England after poor campaign in T20 World Cup 2026

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter endured a tough run in the recently concluded T20 World Cup held across India and Sri Lanka. Managing just 87 runs in eight innings, Buttler’s performances fell well below his usually high standards. Despite England reaching the semi-finals, their journey ended with a defeat against eventual champions India, leaving several questions about the team’s senior players.

Speaking candidly on his podcast For the Love of Cricket alongside former England pacer Stuart Broad, Buttler did not shy away from acknowledging his struggles.

He openly admitted that the tournament was disappointing on a personal level, especially given his expectations and experience. However, the veteran also emphasized that a lean patch does not define his career, pointing to the strong form he has shown in recent years.

“Obviously I had a poor tournament, which is disappointing. But I have been playing some of the best cricket of my (career) in recent years, so hopefully I can get back to playing my best,” said Buttler.

Future uncertain but motivation remains strong

Buttler’s role in the England setup has been under scrutiny, particularly after he stepped down from white-ball captaincy following England’s underwhelming Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. Without leadership responsibilities, his place in the side will now depend purely on performance and selection dynamics.

Despite this uncertainty, Buttler remains motivated to continue representing England. He expressed a balanced perspective on his future, stating that selection decisions are no longer in his control but his ambition to contribute to the national team remains very much alive.

“I certainly have ambitions (to play for England again), but no longer being a captain, I am not a selector and whatever, so what will be, will be,” explained Buttler.

Also READ: MS Dhoni omitted! Irfan Pathan picks his ideal Chennai Super Kings lineup for IPL 2026

Time away from the game brings mental reset

Following the World Cup, Buttler chose to step away from cricket entirely, opting for a quiet family break in the French mountains. The decision, according to him, was crucial in helping him mentally reset after a demanding and disappointing tournament. He described the time away as exactly what he needed, allowing him to disconnect from the pressures of professional cricket. For a player who has been at the top level for over a decade, such breaks can often play a key role in rediscovering rhythm and focus.

“I couldn’t have been further away from cricket, which for me at the time was just perfect. It is exactly what I needed,” added Buttler.

Buttler is now set to return to competitive action in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), where he will represent Gujarat Titans. The tournament presents a valuable opportunity for him to regain form, rebuild confidence, and make a strong statement ahead of future international selections.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts the Orange Cap and Puple Cap winners of IPL 2026

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