Iran’s players pose for a team photo at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran (left) and US President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)

Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj said Iran will take part in the upcoming FIFA World Cup but intends to boycott the United States amid ongoing tensions.“We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States but not the World Cup,” Taj said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars News Agency on Wednesday, as cited by news agency AFP.Iran are currently scheduled to play their group-stage matches in the United States. However, the federation has started discussions with FIFA about the possibility of shifting those fixtures to another venue. FIFA has so far said that the tournament schedule remains unchanged.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that Mexico is ready to host Iran’s group matches if required. “Yes,” she said when asked about the possibility. “Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with every country in the world, therefore we will wait to see what FIFA decides.”Iran’s participation in the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has come under focus since the conflict in the Middle East began last month. US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that the safety of Iranian players could be at risk if they travelled to the United States.Gianni Infantino had initially said that assurances were received from Trump that the Iranian team would be allowed to participate. Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle.However, Trump later said that Iran’s team should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety”, drawing strong reactions. Iran responded by stating that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.Iran had qualified for the tournament almost a year ago after topping their group, becoming the second Asian side after Japan to secure a place.The team’s base camp for the tournament is currently planned in Tucson, Arizona.Meanwhile, Abolfazl Pasandideh criticised “the US government’s lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support” for the Iranian delegation in a statement released on Monday.If Iran eventually withdraws from the tournament, it is not yet known which team would replace them.

Sanju Samson, front centre, being congratulated by head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI Photo)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has long been an admirer of Sanju Samson, who recently earned the Player of the Tournament award as India clinched a record third T20 World Cup title. Reflecting on the wicketkeeper-batter’s rise, Tharoor recalled telling a young Samson that he could become the next MS Dhoni.“I feel tremendous pride. I first met him when he was 14, a young club cricketer with a big smile and immense talent, already excelling in both wicketkeeping and batting. I had told him, somewhat patronisingly, that he would be the next Dhoni,” Tharoor said.

However, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir later advised Tharoor that Samson did not need to emulate anyone else and would instead forge his own path. Gambhir, even before becoming India’s head coach, had consistently backed Samson. In 2020, he had called him “not just the best wicketkeeper-batsman in India, but the best young batsman in India.”“Years later, Gambhir corrected me, saying he does not need to be the next Dhoni; he will be the one and only Sanju Samson — and that is exactly what he has become,” Tharoor added.Dhoni remains the benchmark for wicketkeeper-batters, arriving at the international stage as a big-hitting top-order batter before becoming one of India’s finest middle-order finishers and captains, winning all three major ICC white-ball trophies.Samson, meanwhile, had struggled with form in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and was even benched before returning for the crucial Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe. He then followed that performance with three consecutive half-centuries: 97* against West Indies, 89 against England, and 89 against New Zealand in the final, consistently anchoring India’s innings and guiding them to defend the title.“He has been a terrific success — quiet, modest, unpretentious, and an effective leader,” Tharoor said. “He has led Rajasthan Royals very well for years and brought stability to India’s top order. Even during his difficult phases, I always felt that if he composed himself, his core talent would shine through.”Recalling Samson’s semi-final and final displays, Tharoor added, “In both matches, he reached 89 before being dismissed while selflessly playing big shots for the team. He could have played conservatively, but he chose to accelerate, showing the selfless, talented, and dedicated nature of Sanju Samson.”

Sanju Samson’s record-breaking T20 World Cup 2026 campaign

Sanju Samson’s stellar campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 has rewritten the record books. In just five innings, he scored 321 runs, breaking Virat Kohli’s long-standing record of 319 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup for the most runs by an Indian in a T20 World Cup, and set a new benchmark for the most sixes in a single World Cup with 24.Samson also broke multiple other records, including the most runs for India in consecutive innings, the most runs in T20 World Cup knockout matches, and the highest score for India in a T20 World Cup final and in a chase. His blend of power-hitting, composure under pressure, and match-winning instincts made him the standout performer of the tournament. With these feats, Samson not only helped India clinch their third T20 World Cup title but also elevated himself into the elite echelon of T20 cricket legends.

L-R: Parul Chaudhary, Preethi Pal and Deepti Sharma

The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) is set to return with its eighth edition, celebrating the inspiring journeys and achievements of India’s finest athletes across multiple disciplines. The much-anticipated TOISA 2025 ceremony will take place on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, bringing together sporting icons and emerging stars who made the nation proud over the past year.This edition will recognise athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, honouring performances during the evaluation period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. From global championships to major international tournaments, Indian sport witnessed a remarkable year filled with memorable victories and record-breaking performances.Athletes from the host state, Uttar Pradesh, are well represented in the nominees list across multiple categories, highlighting their growing presence and success at both national and international levels.A total of 15 names have featured in the TOISA 2025 nominees list based on their performances in the 2025 calendar year, including 13 athletes and two coaches.The athletes have been nominated across categories such as cricket, athletics (track and field), hockey, shooting, kabaddi, para archery, para athletics, para chess and para coach, showcasing the breadth of Uttar Pradesh’s sporting excellence.From cricketers like Deepti Sharma, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s triumphant ICC Women’s ODI World Cup campaign, and Kuldeep Yadav, the Asia Cup’s leading wicket-taker, to athletics nominees Gulveer Singh, Sachin Yadav, Parul Chaudhary and Rupal Chaudhary, Uttar Pradesh athletes have shone on the global stage.Here is the list of Uttar Pradesh athletes and coaches nominated for TOISA 2025::Cricketer of the Year

Athlete (Track & Field) of the Year

Hockey player of the YearShooter of the YearKabaddi player of the YearPara Archer of the YearPara Athlete (Track & Field) of the Year

Para Chess Player of the YearPara Sportsperson of the YearPara Coach of the Year

Arjun Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant (Screen Grab)

Arjun Tendulkar is preparing for a new chapter in his IPL career after moving to Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2026 season. After playing just five matches across five seasons with Mumbai Indians, the left-arm pacer was traded to LSG for ₹30 lakh prior to the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi last December.In a video shared by LSG, where Pant and Arjun are seen talking, Pant struck up a conversation about Arjun’s batting approach. Curious about his preference for heavier bats, Pant asked, “Tera kitna hae bhai (What’s the weight of your bat)?”“1220,” Arjun replied. Pant followed up, “Bhaari se kya faida hae (What’s the advantage of using heavier bats)?”Arjun explained, “Touch karo ho jaata hae. Papa to 1310-1315 mein khelte the. 1200 se halka jaata nehi hoon main (Just a touch does it. My father used to play with bats weighing 1310-1315. I don’t go below 1200).”The reference, of course, was to his father, Sachin Tendulkar, who famously used heavier bats during his career.Pant was equally impressed by Arjun’s work ethic, especially after learning that he had trained with Yuvraj Singh immediately after his wedding. Arjun tied the knot with Saaniya Chandhok on March 5 in Mumbai but wasted no time getting back to cricket.“You were also practising with Yuvi paa… full-time? Shadi ke agle din hi? You are so enthu bhai,” Pant remarked in admiration.While images of those sessions did not surface publicly, it is understood that Yuvraj worked closely with Arjun on his batting. The interaction ended on a warm note, with Pant offering his support: “Agar kuch lage to batana… Always open for you.”Arjun’s IPL journey began in 2021 when he was picked by Mumbai Indians for ₹20 lakh, though he did not feature that season due to injury. He was bought again in 2022 for ₹30 lakh but remained on the sidelines. His debut finally came in 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium, where he played four matches and picked up three wickets. In 2024, he featured in just one game, coincidentally against LSG, but went wicketless.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar addresses a press conference. (ANI Photo)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) extended men’s senior selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar‘s contract by a year before the 2025 IPL got underway. Agarkar was rewarded for the Indian team’s triumphs in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. A little over a week after India defended their T20 World Cup title at home, the board is understood to have received a request from the former India cricketer to extend his tenure until the 2027 ODI World Cup.TimesofIndia.com has learnt that discussions have already taken place on the matter. It remains to be seen whether the BCCI, lacking a better option for the role, agrees to Agarkar’s request as they approach a crucial phase of the World Test Championship and begin preparations for next year’s 50-over event. BCCI president Mithun Manhas, secretary Devajit Saikia, and Agarkar did not respond to queries. The story will be updated when they do.Strong murmurs within BCCI corridors suggest that another former India cricketer from the West Zone was the front-runner to succeed Agarkar, but there has been no concrete development on that front. Agarkar’s well-timed request, made when the country is riding the euphoria of another ICC title, leaves the ball firmly in the BCCI’s court.

Whether the board grants Agarkar another extension or initiates discussions with a potential candidate remains to be seen.Agarkar has been chairman of the men’s senior selection committee since June 2023, and India have won three ICC titles, two T20 World Cups and one Champions Trophy, during his tenure. However, Test results have been far from ideal, with India losing back-to-back series at home and suffering an away defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This has somewhat dulled the sheen of their white-ball success, where India have lost only two of 33 matches and also won the 2023 and 2025 editions of the Asia Cup.During his tenure, India have undergone transitions across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, while stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Virat Kohli have announced retirements in at least one format. While Kohli and Rohit continue to play ODIs, Ashwin has retired from all formats. Whether Kohli and Rohit will feature in the 2027 World Cup remains a key question.Both chairman Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have maintained a non-committal stance on the issue.“Look, they [Rohit and Kohli] are part of the squad at the moment for Australia,” Agarkar said at the NDTV World Summit 2025. “In two years’ time, we don’t know what the situation is going to be. So why just them two? It could be some other younger players [who might miss out on the tournament].”“It’s still a long way away. We’ll see how the team shapes up, but we have some ideas, and as we go along we’ll probably have a better idea of where the team is progressing,” he added.Both Agarkar and Gambhir have struck a similar note, repeatedly urging everyone to “stay in the present”. Now that the selector appears willing to look ahead to the tournament, it will be interesting to see how the BCCI responds, and what the future holds for two of India’s greatest cricketers.

Kolkata: The Indian men’s hockey team will kick off their World Cup on Aug 15 against Wales before taking on England two days later on Aug 17. They play their final Group D game against Pakistan on Aug 19, according to the schedule that was published by the FIH on Wednesday. Pakistan have qualified for the World Cup after missing out in 2023, and a clash between the two subcontinental rivals is always a potential humdinger. The two teams have faced off in the World Cup five times so far, and India have won three times, including the famous 2-1 victory in the 1975 final. Speaking about the grouping and specifically the Pakistan match, India coach Craig Fulton said, “We are happy with our draw in Pool D. England, Pakistan and Wales are a good group and we respect all three teams. The match against Pakistan will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament, and we are looking forward to it all.” Meanwhile, the women’s team will open their campaign against China on Aug 16. The Sjoerd Marijne-coached side will then take on South Africa on Aug 18 before their last group game against England two days later on Aug 20. It promises to be a difficult group for the women’s team considering how England and China have fared against them in recent times, and they will have to play out of their skins to make sure they make it to the knockouts. “This is a very competitive and balanced pool. There are teams like England and China that bring different styles and a lot of experience, while the South Africa women’s national field hockey team is always unpredictable and dangerous on their day,” Marijne said in a release. “However, for us, it’s not about the draw — it’s about how we show up. At a World Cup, every match demands your best,” added the Dutch coach. The women’s squad will be going on tours to the US and Argentina, and will play practice matches in Germany, besides also competing at the Nations Cup in New Zealand. Similarly, the men’s team will also continue to play abroad ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games. “We’re going to be away from home a lot more. We will play in Malaysia against New Zealand and Australia, and then travel to Europe for the Pro League,” Fulton had earlier said. India’s WC Group matches: Men: vs Wales Aug 15, vs England Aug 17, vs Pakistan Aug 19; Women: vs China Aug 16, vs South Africa Aug 18, vs England Aug 20.