India’s dominant run in international cricket has earned four of its stars a place on the ICC Player of the Month shortlists for September, with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma nominated in the men’s category, while Shafali Verma and Shree Charani feature among the women’s nominees.Gill is in contention for a record-equalling fifth ICC Player of the Month award, while Abhishek has been shortlisted after producing one of the most explosive T20I innings of the month.Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza is the other nominee in the men’s category, while Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu joins Shafali and Charani on the women’s shortlist.
Gill eyes fifth Player of the Month award
Gill enjoyed a sensational September in ODIs against the West Indies, scoring 333 runs in two matches. The India captain began the series with a century in Thiruvananthapuram, scoring 110 in the opening ODI.He then produced a breathtaking 223 off just 133 balls, registering the fastest ODI double-century and powering India to a successful chase of 406 with eight wickets and 39 balls to spare. Gill’s latest nomination gives him another chance to add to his ICC Player of the Month collection.
Abhishek sets new T20I record
Abhishek Sharma was equally destructive in the shortest format, smashing 229 runs in four T20Is during September. His standout performance came against Afghanistan, when he smashed a stunning 108 off 34 balls, including a record-breaking 30-ball century.The knock made him the fastest Indian to score a T20I century, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s previous mark of 35 balls. Abhishek, who won the ICC Player of the Month award in September last year, will now look to claim the honour again.
Shafali leads India’s Asia Cup charge
Shafali Verma’s explosive batting earned her a place on the women’s shortlist after a prolific month across formats. The opener accumulated 360 runs at a strike rate of 184.61 and finished as the leading run-scorer in India’s successful Women’s Asia Cup campaign.She also contributed with the ball, picking up six wickets during the period. At the Asian Games, Shafali continued her impressive run, smashing an unbeaten 100 against Bangladesh in the semi-final before scoring 48 in the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka.
Charani breaks ICC rankings record
Shree Charani’s outstanding September has also earned her recognition. The spinner claimed 18 wickets in seven T20Is at an impressive economy rate of 3.30. Her best moment came in the Asian Games final, where she returned figures of 2/13 to help India secure the gold medal. The performance took Charani to 817 rating points, the highest ever recorded in the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings.
Raza, Athapaththu complete the shortlists
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza earned his nomination after emerging as the leading run-scorer in his team’s home ODI series against Australia. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, meanwhile, was recognised for her all-round impact with both bat and ball during the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
