Dubai, Oct 13: India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill and opening batter Shafali Verma have been named the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for September, respectively, giving India a double triumph in the monthly awards for the third time in the award’s history.
Gill earned his fifth ICC Player of the Month award following a remarkable run of performances in the ODI series against the West Indies, extending his record as the most decorated winner in the men’s category. Verma, meanwhile, secured her second monthly honour after playing pivotal roles in India’s successful campaigns at the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games.
Gill’s latest recognition puts him level with West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who has also won the ICC Player of the Month award five times. The Indian batter’s previous honours came in January and September 2023, followed by February and July 2025.
The right-handed batter was instrumental in India’s dominant performance against the West Indies in the ODI series. He began with a commanding 110 in the opening match in Thiruvananthapuram, helping the hosts register an eight-wicket victory and take a 1-0 lead.
Gill raised the bar in the subsequent match with a spectacular 223 off just 133 deliveries. His double-century powered India’s successful pursuit of a challenging 406-run target, as the team secured another eight-wicket win with 39 balls to spare. The innings was described in the supplied account as the quickest double-century in ODI history.
Reacting to the award, Gill expressed gratitude to the ICC panel and said scoring runs in successful chases in front of home supporters had been particularly satisfying.
“It feels fantastic to win my fifth ICC Player of the Month award, and I am grateful to the panel for this honour. It was immensely satisfying to score those runs and even more special to be part of successful run chases in front of our home fans, whose support always gives us an extra boost,” Gill said.
He also highlighted the increasing demands of modern one-day cricket, saying batters must assess conditions quickly and adapt their approach to the pitch and the target.
“The pace of ODI cricket has gone up significantly, and you must think on your feet, assess the conditions quickly and adapt to the demands of the pitch and the target,” he said.
Looking ahead, Gill said India were focused on improving their standards and building a well-balanced squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in southern Africa next year.
Verma’s award recognises her consistent contributions to India’s success in major international tournaments. The opener emerged as India’s leading run-scorer during the Women’s Asia Cup-winning campaign, accumulating 360 runs at an impressive strike rate of 184.61. She also made valuable contributions with the ball, taking six wickets during the period.
The 22-year-old carried her form into the Asian Games, producing a match-defining performance in the semi-final against Bangladesh, where she scored an unbeaten century. She followed it with another important contribution, scoring 48 in the final against Sri Lanka as India secured the title.
This is Verma’s second ICC Player of the Month award. She previously received the honour in November 2025 after delivering a match-winning performance in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
Expressing delight at the recognition, Verma said contributing to India’s victories at the Asia Cup and the Asian Games had been immensely rewarding.
“It is an incredible honour to win the ICC Player of the Month award again. It was immensely satisfying to play my part in our victories at the Asia Cup and the Asian Games, and winning this award makes those triumphs even more special,” she said.
Verma also looked forward to the challenges ahead, highlighting the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy scheduled for February next year. She said the memories of India’s World Cup triumph remained special and expressed excitement about representing the country in another ICC tournament on home soil.
The September nominees also included India opener Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza in the men’s category. For the women’s award, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India left-arm spinner Sree Charani were shortlisted alongside Verma.
The latest results mark the fifth occasion on which players from the same cricket board have won both monthly awards. India have achieved the double three times, underlining the country’s growing depth across men’s and women’s cricket.
India’s previous doubles came in June 2024, when fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and batter Smriti Mandhana won the respective awards, and in September 2025, when Abhishek Sharma and Mandhana were recognised.
Gill and Verma’s latest achievements add to India’s growing list of individual honours, with both players rewarded for performances that helped the national teams deliver important victories on the international stage.
