Gill Creates History with Fifth ICC Player of the Month; Shafali Wins Second
What Happened
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill and women’s T20I vice-captain Shafali Verma were the Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for September 2026. This is Gill’s fifth ICC Player of the Month award, making him the first male cricketer to reach this milestone, equalling West Indies captain Hayley Matthews across categories. Shafali’s was the top run-scorer in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, with 236 runs at a strike rate of 171.01, plus two wickets. At the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, she scored 188 runs in three matches, including a century against Bangladesh, and took four wickets. This is her second ICC Player of the Month award, after winning in November 2025. This marks the third time Indian players have won both awards in the same month, following Bumrah & Mandhana (June 2024) and Abhishek Sharma & Mandhana (September 2025).
Key Takeaways
Gill’s record fifth award cements his status as one of the most dominant ODI batters globally, while Shafali’s recognition highlights her role in India’s women’s cricket success. The dual win underscores India’s growing strength in both men’s and women’s formats.