Sports Desk: Indian cricket team captain Shubman Gill has achieved another major milestone. He has been named the ICC Player of the Month for September 2026. In the race for this award, Gill surpassed fellow Indian player Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe’s star cricketer Sikandar Raza. With this win, Gill has become the first Indian player to secure this honor five times. Meanwhile, Shafali Verma of the Indian women’s cricket team has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September.
Gill shines with the bat against West Indies
Shubman Gill has been rewarded for his stellar performance in the ODI series against the West Indies during September. He scored a total of 333 runs in the first two matches of the series. In the first ODI, Gill played a magnificent innings of 110 runs, while in the second match, he scored an unbeaten 223 runs, putting his team in a commanding position.
However, in the third ODI played in October, he was dismissed after scoring just one run. Despite this, his performance in the opening two matches was impressive enough for him to win this prestigious ICC award.
Record-breaking double century: 223 runs off 133 balls
In the second ODI against the West Indies, Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 223 runs off just 133 balls. His innings included 26 fours and eight sixes. He completed his century in just 62 balls and went on to smash a double century in 117 balls.
With this innings, Gill set the record for the fastest double century in ODI cricket, surpassing the record held by Indian batsman Ishan Kishan. His performance garnered significant attention across the cricketing world.
First Indian to win ICC Player of the Month five times
Shubman Gill has now won the ICC Player of the Month award five times. He first received this honor in January 2023. Subsequently, he won this award in September 2023, February 2025, and July 2025 as well. By achieving this feat for the fifth time in September 2026, he set a new record in Indian cricket.
Prior to this, Indian player Sanju Samson had won the award in March 2026. Now, this achievement by Gill has once again highlighted his stellar performance in international cricket.
Shafali Verma also wins ICC Women’s Player of the Month award
There was more good news for Indian cricket. Star batter of the women’s team, Shafali Verma, was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September 2026. The 22-year-old Shafali claimed this award for the second time; she had previously won this honor in November 2025.
Thus, Indian male and female cricketers made their mark on the ICC awards for the month of September. The achievements of Shubman Gill and Shafali Verma marked another special moment for Indian cricket.
