Overview
- Cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, chess player Divya Deshmukh, shooter Suruchi Singh and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji were named to the shortlist.
- The nominees were selected by an eminent jury of sports editors, writers and specialists after evaluating performances from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.
- For the first time, a Grand Jury featuring Leander Paes, Anju Bobby George and Deepa Malik will decide the winners, to be revealed at a February 16 ceremony.
- Kaur captained India to its first ICC Women’s World Cup title in November 2025, while Mandhana struck a 50-ball ODI hundred against Australia, the fastest by an Indian.
- Deshmukh became the youngest and first Indian Women’s World Cup chess champion and earned Grandmaster status; Singh completed an ISSF World Cup golden treble and rose to No. 1 in 10m air pistol; Yarraji qualified for the Olympic 100m hurdles and took 2025 Asian Championships gold.