Dubai, Oct 14:
India captain Shubman Gill and opener Shafali Verma have won the ICC Player of the Month awards for their outstanding performances in international cricket. Gill claimed the men’s honour for a record fifth time following his impressive showing in the ODI series against the West Indies, while Shafali won the women’s award for her contributions to India’s Asia Cup and Asian Games triumphs.
Gill equalled West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who has also won the award five times. The 27-year-old had previously received the honour in January and September 2023, and February and July 2025. He scored 110 in the first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram before smashing 223 off 133 balls in the next match, recording the fastest double-century in ODI history. His innings helped India chase a target of 407 with eight wickets and 39 balls to spare.
Shafali, who had won the award in November last year after her match-winning performance in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa, continued her impressive form. She was India’s highest run-scorer in the Women’s Asia Cup, scoring 360 runs at a strike rate of 184.61 and taking six wickets. At the Asian Games, she scored an unbeaten 100 against Bangladesh in the semi-final and 48 in the final against Sri Lanka.
Shafali said the award made India’s victories in the Asia Cup and Asian Games even more special. She also expressed excitement about the months ahead, including the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy scheduled for February next year.
This is the fifth time players from the same national board have won both the men’s and women’s awards in the same month. Indian players previously achieved the double through Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana in June 2024, and Abhishek Sharma and Mandhana in September 2025.