The Shubman Gill ICC award win has put the India men's captain alongside West Indies captain Hayley Matthews for the most ICC Player of the Month honours. Gill and India women's opener Shafali Verma have been named the men's and women's winners for September 2026, following impressive performances in international cricket.
Gill earned the recognition for his performances against the West Indies in ODIs, while Shafali was rewarded for her contributions to India's Asia Cup and Asian Games campaigns.
Gill's previous monthly awards came in January and September 2023, followed by February and July 2025. This latest honour takes his tally to five.
Gill's Record-Breaking ODI Performances
Gill scored 110 in the first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram before producing a remarkable 223 off 133 balls in the second match.
His double-century helped India chase down a target of 406 with eight wickets in hand and 39 balls remaining. According to the supplied report, the innings was the fastest double-century in ODI history.
Gill said winning his fifth award was a great feeling and thanked the voting panel for the recognition. He also highlighted how modern ODI cricket requires batters to assess conditions quickly and adapt their approach to the pitch and target.
Shafali Verma Shines With Bat and Ball
Shafali secured her second ICC Player of the Month award, having previously won the honour in November 2025 after helping India win the Women's World Cup.
In September 2026, she scored 360 runs in seven T20 internationals at an average of 72 and a strike rate of 184.61. She also took six wickets at an average of 13 and an economy rate of 4.33.
At the Women's Asia Cup in the UAE, Shafali scored 236 runs in five innings to finish as the tournament's leading run-scorer. Her 64 in the semi-final against Bangladesh and 68 in the final against Sri Lanka helped India secure a record-extending eighth title.
Century Powers India at the Asian Games
Shafali continued her strong form at the Asian Games in Nagoya, scoring 188 runs in three innings. Her unbeaten 100 off 49 balls against Bangladesh in the semi-final was her maiden T20I century.
She followed it with 48 in the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka, which India won by 147 runs. Shafali also claimed four wickets during the Games, including two in the final.
Calling the award an incredible honour, she said contributing to India's victories at the Asia Cup and Asian Games had been immensely satisfying.
India Sweeps Both Monthly Honours
India has previously had both its men's and women's players win the monthly awards in the same period. Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana received the honours in June 2024, while Abhishek Sharma and Mandhana achieved the double in September 2025.
Gill's record-equalling fifth award and Shafali's all-round performances underline India's strong representation in international cricket during September.
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