Shubman Gill and Shafali Verma Secure Historic ICC Monthly Double
India’s dominance in world cricket reached new heights as national men’s team captain Shubman Gill and women’s opening batter Shafali Verma were named the ICC Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for September. Gill’s triumph marks an unprecedented fifth time he has claimed the accolade, cementing his position as the most decorated male cricketer in the history of the monthly award. Meanwhile, Verma earned the prestigious honor for the second time in her career following a series of commanding performances across major regional and multi-sport tournaments.
Gill’s September campaign against the West Indies featured extraordinary run-scoring authority. Across the first two One Day Internationals (ODIs) of the three-match series, the right-hander accumulated 333 runs. After striking a composed 110 off 108 balls in the opening fixture—where India comfortably chased down 295 within 41.4 overs—he produced an explosive display of power-hitting in the second ODI at Guwahati.
The West Indies posted a formidable 405 for 7, marking their first-ever total above 400 in ODI history. Undeterred by the massive target, India’s top order launched a ruthless counter-attack. Gill partnered with veteran opener Rohit Sharma, who scored 101 off 75 balls, to establish a 255-run opening stand—the highest opening partnership ever recorded on Indian soil in ODIs. Gill reached his century off just 62 deliveries, setting a record for the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian captain. He then accelerated further to complete a double century off 117 balls, registering the fastest double-hundred in ODI history. Ending undefeated on 223 off 133 balls, Gill anchored India to the 406-run target with 39 balls to spare, setting the highest individual score in a successful ODI run chase. India subsequently closed out the series 2–1.
With this latest accolade, Gill breaks clear of all previous contenders to hold the record for the most ICC Player of the Month titles individually, adding to his previous victories in January 2023, September 2023, February 2025, and July 2025. His leadership under pressure and ability to dictate the pace of daunting run chases have become defining hallmarks of his captaincy.
In the women’s category, 22-year-old Shafali Verma showcased remarkable consistency to claim her second monthly award, having previously won in November 2024 during India’s World Cup-winning campaign. During the Asia Cup, Verma finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 236 runs across five innings. She struck a vital 64 against Bangladesh in the semi-finals before scoring 68 in the final against Sri Lanka, steering India to a record eighth Asia Cup title.
Verma seamlessly carried her brilliant touch to the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scoring 188 runs across three innings. In the semi-final against Bangladesh, she registered her maiden Twenty20 International century, smashing an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls. She followed this up with an undefeated 40 against the host nation.
In the gold medal match against Sri Lanka, Verma delivered an exceptional all-round performance. She contributed 48 runs with the bat and proved equally lethal with her right-arm off-spin. Having taken two wickets in the Asia Cup and four earlier in the Asian Games, she claimed two crucial wickets in the final, helping dismiss Sri Lanka and securing the gold medal for India by a massive margin of 147 runs. The twin accolades for Gill and Verma underscore the exceptional depth and sustained excellence across both arms of Indian international cricket.
