Shubman Gill wins fifth ICC Player of the Month award as Shafali Verma claims women’s honour
Shubman Gill has created history by winning the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for September 2026 for a record fifth time in the men’s category. The Indian captain earned the prestigious recognition after producing two outstanding performances against the West Indies in the ODI series, including a remarkable unbeaten double century in a record-breaking run chase.
India also celebrated another major achievement as opener Shafali Verma was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September 2026. Her impressive all-round performances helped India win the Women’s Asia Cup and secure gold at the Asian Games, making it a memorable month for Indian cricket.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced both winners on October 13, 2026. Gill extended his record for the most ICC Men’s Player of the Month awards, while Shafali secured the women’s honour for the second time in her career. The double victory further highlighted India’s impressive performances across men’s and women’s international cricket.
Shubman Gill’s record-breaking performance against West Indies
Gill’s award-winning campaign was built around a sensational two-match stretch against the West Indies. The right-handed batter scored 333 runs across the first two ODIs, registering a century in the opening match before producing one of the most remarkable innings in ODI history.
In the first ODI, played in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, Gill scored 110 runs off 108 deliveries. His composed century helped India chase down the West Indies’ total of 295/7, with the hosts reaching the target of 296 in 41.4 overs.
However, it was the second ODI in Guwahati that truly defined Gill’s month. After the West Indies posted a massive 405/7, India faced a challenging target of 406 runs. Gill responded with an unbeaten 223 off just 133 balls, combining exceptional timing with aggressive stroke play to put the opposition bowlers under enormous pressure.
His innings featured 26 fours and eight sixes. Gill reached his century in just 62 deliveries, setting a new record for the fastest ODI century by an Indian captain. He then completed his double century in 117 balls, making it the fastest double century in men’s ODI cricket.
The innings also established a new record for the highest individual score in a successful ODI run chase. India eventually reached 406/2 in 43.3 overs, winning by eight wickets with 39 balls remaining. Gill shared a 255-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, who contributed 101 off 75 deliveries.
India later lost the third ODI on October 3, but went on to win the three-match series 2-1. Gill’s extraordinary contribution in the first two matches was enough to make him the standout contender for the September award.
Fifth ICC award puts Gill among the greats
Winning the ICC Player of the Month award for the fifth time represents another significant milestone in Gill’s international career. He previously received the men’s award in January 2023, September 2023, February 2025 and July 2025 before adding the September 2026 honour to his collection.
His latest victory extends his record as the men’s player with the most wins in the award’s history. Interestingly, Gill has also drawn level with West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who has won the monthly award five times across the men’s and women’s categories.
The recognition reflects more than just the number of runs Gill scored. His performances demonstrated his ability to control a chase, accelerate when required and maintain composure under pressure. Those qualities are particularly valuable in modern ODI cricket, where teams are increasingly willing to pursue totals that once appeared almost impossible.
Gill’s latest achievement also strengthens his standing as one of the leading batters in Indian cricket. As captain, he is expected to balance personal performance with the responsibility of building a competitive team. His record-breaking contribution against the West Indies offered a strong example of how individual brilliance can directly influence a team’s results.
Speaking after receiving the award, Gill expressed his gratitude to the ICC panel and said that scoring those runs in front of Indian home supporters made the experience even more special.
He also highlighted the changing pace of ODI cricket, explaining that players must assess conditions quickly, think on their feet and adapt to the demands of the pitch and the target. Looking ahead to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in southern Africa in 2027, Gill said India were determined to keep improving and build a strong, well-balanced squad.
Shafali Verma wins her second ICC Player of the Month award
While Gill dominated the headlines in the men’s category, Shafali Verma delivered an equally impressive campaign for India in women’s cricket. The explosive opening batter was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September 2026 after helping India achieve major success at the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games.
Shafali’s performance in the Women’s Asia Cup was particularly impressive. India won the tournament for a record-extending eighth time, completing an unbeaten campaign. The opener finished as her team’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 236 runs in five innings.
Her most important contributions came in the knockout stages. Shafali scored 64 against Bangladesh in the semi-final before making 68 in the final against Sri Lanka. Her aggressive batting at the top of the order gave India strong starts and helped the team build competitive totals.
India eventually defeated Sri Lanka in the final to secure the continental title. Shafali’s contribution with the bat, alongside her useful off-spin bowling, made her one of the standout performers of the tournament.
She continued her impressive form at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, where India won the gold medal. Shafali scored 188 runs in three innings, including an unbeaten 40 against Japan and a memorable maiden T20I century against Bangladesh in the semi-final.
Her century came off just 49 deliveries and demonstrated the attacking ability that has made her such an important part of India’s batting line-up. Shafali also contributed with the ball, taking four wickets during the Asian Games, including two in the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka.
India won that final by a commanding margin of 147 runs. Shafali’s contributions in both tournaments underlined her value as an all-rounder rather than just an aggressive opening batter.
This was the second ICC Player of the Month award of her career. She had previously won the women’s award in November 2025 after playing a key role in India’s triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on home soil.
At just 22, Shafali has already established herself as a major presence in Indian women’s cricket. Her September performances provided another reminder of her ability to change the course of a match with both bat and ball.
What Gill and Shafali said after winning the awards
Gill described his fifth ICC Player of the Month award as a fantastic achievement and thanked the panel for recognising his performances. He also credited the support of Indian fans, saying that successful run chases in front of home crowds made the experience especially rewarding.
The India captain emphasised that the modern ODI game requires players to make decisions quickly and adapt to changing match situations. With the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup approaching, his focus remains on improving standards and helping India develop a balanced team capable of handling different conditions.
Shafali, meanwhile, called her second monthly award an incredible honour. She said contributing to India’s victories at the Asia Cup and Asian Games had been immensely satisfying and that the recognition made those achievements even more special.
She also expressed excitement about India’s upcoming white-ball fixtures and future international tournaments. For Shafali, the challenge now is to maintain her form and continue delivering match-winning performances for the national team.
Both players have made it clear that individual awards are meaningful, but team success remains the bigger objective. Their statements also reflect India’s growing ambitions across international cricket.
Who were the other nominees for September 2026?
Gill and Shafali emerged from competitive shortlists featuring several outstanding international performers.
In the men’s category, India’s Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza were the other nominees. Abhishek earned recognition for his explosive batting, while Raza impressed with his contributions with both bat and ball.
The women’s shortlist included Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India’s left-arm spinner Sree Charani. Both players had produced performances that made them strong contenders for the monthly honour.
Ultimately, Gill’s extraordinary ODI run-scoring and Shafali’s contributions to India’s tournament victories helped the two Indian stars secure the awards.
According to the ICC, this was the fifth occasion on which players from the same national cricket board won both monthly awards, and the third time that Indian players achieved the double.
For Indian cricket fans, the announcement is another reason to celebrate. Gill’s record-breaking double century has added a historic milestone to his career, while Shafali’s all-round excellence has reinforced her importance to the women’s team.
With major international challenges ahead, both players will be looking to carry this momentum into their upcoming assignments. Stay tuned to ROKOCRICKET for the latest cricket news, match updates, records, player performances and ICC award announcements. Subscribe and keep following us for more breaking cricket stories.
