The International Cricket Council has announced the shortlisted candidates for the September Player of the Month accolades, highlighting a remarkably dominant run by Indian cricketers across international competitions. In the men's section, two dynamic Indian top-order batters, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, will compete directly against each other, alongside Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. The women's category reflects a similar Indian footprint, featuring left-arm spinner Shree Charani and swashbuckling opener Shafali Verma alongside Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Shubman Gill Mounts Strong Case With Record Double Century
India's captain Shubman Gill finds himself in contention to claim the ICC Player of the Month honour for the fifth time in his career following an extraordinary run in the 50-over format. Across two One-Day Internationals against the West Indies, Gill accumulated an astounding 333 runs. His series began with an elegant 110 in the opening fixture staged in Thiruvananthapuram, setting the platform for an even bigger historic milestone in the subsequent encounter.
Gill etched his name deeply into cricket folklore by hammering the fastest double century in the history of One-Day Internationals. Facing only 133 deliveries, he plundered 223 runs, dismantling the bowling attack. Thanks to his relentless hitting, India effortlessly scaled a massive target of 406 runs with eight wickets to spare and 39 balls remaining, marking an unprecedented run chase.
Abhishek Sharma Sets Blitzkrieg Mark With 30-Ball Century
Contending alongside his compatriot, opener Abhishek Sharma once again captured the sporting world's attention with breathtaking boundary-hitting in the shortest format. Over four T20 Internationals played throughout September, Sharma piled up 229 runs. Having already secured the monthly trophy in September of the previous year, the aggressive batter presented an unassailable bid with a sensational individual exhibition.
Facing Afghanistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi, Sharma struck a destructive 108 runs from just 34 deliveries. He reached his hundred in a staggering 30 balls, setting the record for the fastest T20 International century ever struck by an Indian batter. In achieving the feat, he eclipsed Rohit Sharma's long-standing benchmark of a 35-ball century scored against Sri Lanka in 2017. Furthermore, the milestone stands as the quickest T20 International hundred recorded by any batter representing an ICC Full Member nation.
Sikandar Raza Provides Consistent All-Round Exploits
Zimbabwe captain and talismanic all-rounder Sikandar Raza earned his nomination following an exceptional series against Australia on home soil, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the bilateral ODI fixtures. Across three 50-over games, Raza registered scores of 57, 45, and an unbeaten 81. He finished the three ODIs with 183 runs at an impressive strike rate of 92.89.
Raza proved equally disciplined with the ball in hand, scalping three dismissals while maintaining an economical rate of 5.46 runs per over. His steady contributions extended across three T20 Internationals during the same window, where he chipped in with 90 runs and claimed two wickets.
Women's Contenders Feature Record-Breaking Shree Charani and Shafali Verma
In the women's division, young Indian spinner Shree Charani sustained an exceptional run of form throughout September. Over seven T20 Internationals, Charani collected 18 wickets while conceding runs at a microscopic economy rate of 3.30. Her impact was pivotal in the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka, where she took two wickets for 13 runs to guide her team over the line. Her performances culminated in a historic ratings breakthrough, lifting her to 817 points in the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings, the highest rating ever recorded by any bowler in the history of the format.
Opening batter Shafali Verma matched that brilliance with a barrage of runs at the top of the order, registering 360 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 184.61 across September. She concluded the Women's Asia Cup as the top run-getter and provided critical contributions with the ball by picking up six wickets. Verma was central to India's gold-medal campaign at the Asian Games, striking an unbeaten 100 in the semi-final against Bangladesh before chipping in with a vital 48 in the final against Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu joins the Indian duo as the third nominee in the category.
Decision Mechanism and Voting Distribution
The ultimate recipients of the ICC Player of the Month awards will be determined through a structured voting framework that combines institutional analysis with fan engagement. A dedicated panel comprising the independent ICC Voting Academy and international supporters will decide the winners.
The Voting Academy features prominent cricket journalists, former international players, experienced broadcasters, and members of the ICC Hall of Fame. Assessments from this specialist academy carry a 90 percent weight in the overall calculation, while the remaining 10 percent share belongs to global fans casting ballots on the ICC's official platform.
