September proved to be an unforgettable month for Indian cricket, with four standout players earning nominations for the prestigious ICC Player of the Month awards.
Men’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, dynamic T20I opener Abhishek Sharma, batting powerhouse Shafali Verma, and spin sensation Shree Charani have all been recognised following a series of record-shattering international performances.
Men’s Category: Gill and Abhishek Lead the Charge
Shubman Gill is in strong contention for his fifth ICC monthly honour following a phenomenal ODI series against the West Indies. Gill amassed a staggering 333 runs across just two matches. After kicking off with a brilliant 110 in Thiruvananthapuram, he etched his name into the history books by recording the fastest double-century in ODI history. His sensational, unbeaten 223 came off just 133 deliveries, guiding India to successfully chase down a daunting target of 406 with 39 balls to spare. Gill is joined on the men’s shortlist by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who earned his spot after topping the run charts in a home series against Australia.
Meanwhile, young opener Abhishek Sharma continued his red-hot form in the shortest format. The explosive left-hander hammered 229 runs in four T20Is, highlighted by a breathtaking 34-ball 108 against Afghanistan in Delhi. Reaching his century in just 30 balls, Abhishek broke Rohit Sharma’s previous record to register the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian—and the fastest ever by a batter from an ICC Full Member nation.
Women’s Category: Golden Dominance in Asia
The women’s shortlist is equally star-studded, featuring three exceptional contenders: India’s Shafali Verma and Shree Charani, alongside Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Shafali Verma played an instrumental role in India’s triumphant campaigns at the Women’s Asia Cup and the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. She finished as the leading run-scorer in the Asia Cup with 360 runs at an incredible strike rate of 184.61, while also chipping in with six wickets. Her stellar form continued at the Asian Games, where she scored an unbeaten 100 in the semi-final against Bangladesh and 48 in the final against Sri Lanka to secure the gold medal.
Spinner Shree Charani was equally unstoppable, capturing 18 wickets across seven T20Is at a remarkable economy rate of 3.30, including a crucial 2/13 spell in the Asian Games final. Her mesmerising bowling propelled her to a career-high 817 rating points—breaking all-time records for an Indian bowler in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings.
Completing the formidable trio is Sri Lanka’s talismanic captain Chamari Athapaththu, rounding out a truly competitive and thrilling lineup of September nominees.
