On Tuesday, October 13, the International Cricket Council (ICC)—the sport’s governing body—announced the best players for the month of September. Shubman Gill, the ODI and Test captain of the Indian men’s cricket team, received the ‘Player of the Month’ award for September. Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Shafali Verma—often dubbed the ‘Lady Sehwag’ of the Indian team—won the award.
Gill was rewarded for his outstanding performance in the ODI series against the West Indies last month. Shafali, on the other hand, delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Games, helping the Indian women’s cricket team retain its gold medal. With this win, Captain Gill stands on the verge of making history.
Captain Shubman Gill on the verge of making history
It is worth noting that this was Shubman Gill’s fifth ICC Player of the Month award. He has now become the joint-record holder for the most wins of this award. West Indies women’s team captain Hayley Matthews has also won the ICC Player of the Month award a record five times.
However, if Shubman Gill wins the award one more time, he could become the sole record-holder for the most wins. Gill had previously won the award in January 2023, September 2023, February 2025, and July 2025. For Shafali, this September honor marks her second such award; she first won it in November 2025 following a magnificent performance in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa.
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After winning the award, Gill was quoted by the ICC as saying, “Winning the ICC Player of the Month award for the fifth time is a fantastic experience, and I am grateful to the panel for this honour. The pace of ODI cricket has increased significantly; you have to make instant decisions, quickly assess the conditions, and adapt yourself according to the demands of the pitch and the target.”
