India's T20 World Cup heroes Abhishek Sharma and Axar Patel have entered a new arena of elite competition: the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) Registered Testing Pool for 2026. This move sees them replace star batters Smriti Mandhana and Shreyas Iyer on the crucial list, a testament to their rising status and the rigorous standards of fair play in modern sport.

For athletes, inclusion in the RTP is a significant commitment. It means being part of a select group of 348 top performers across disciplines who must provide detailed daily whereabouts, ensuring they are available for unannounced testing at any time, in or out of competition. This system is the backbone of clean sport, upholding integrity for every athlete who trains and competes in their national colors.

The cricket contingent remains a strong presence on the list. Alongside the newly added Sharma and Patel, the pool features other marquee names like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah. From the women's team, stalwarts like Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma continue their inclusion, highlighting the comprehensive scope of the anti-doping program.

Athletics leads the representation with 134 athletes, showcasing stars from track and field. Names like hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, long jumper M Sreeshankar, and discus thrower Tajinderpal Singh Toor underscore the depth of talent under NADA's watch. The list also spans other Olympic sports, featuring archery legend Deepika Kumari and hockey veteran Manpreet Singh, ensuring a wide net is cast to protect the spirit of competition across the entire Indian sporting landscape.