Updated: October 14, 2026 (IST). Reporting reflects developments of October 13 unless stated.
India secured both September 2026 ICC Player of the Month awards. In an official announcement dated October 13, the International Cricket Council named Shubman Gill the men's winner and Shafali Verma the women's winner, recognizing standout performances in international white-ball cricket.
Beyond the double win, the results highlight two different ways of shaping matches: Gill's controlled but explosive ODI chasing and Verma's rapid starts in high-pressure T20 tournaments. The awards cover September performances, even though the winners were announced in October.
The two winners at a glance
- Shubman Gill: Fifth ICC Player of the Month award; recognized after a productive ODI series against the West Indies.
- Shafali Verma: Second ICC Player of the Month award; recognized after the Women's Asia Cup and Asian Games.
- Announcement: October 13, 2026.
- Selection: A voting process involving an ICC specialist academy and registered cricket fans.
Why Gill's 223 mattered
Gill made 110 in the first ODI against the West Indies and then delivered an extraordinary 223 off 133 balls in the next match, according to the ICC. The second innings helped India chase a target of 406 with eight wickets and 39 balls remaining.
A big score is impressive on its own. The context makes this one more informative: the innings came in a run chase where a batter must balance required scoring rate against the risk of losing wickets. The ICC described the double hundred as the fastest in ODI cricket at the time of its announcement.
Gill's fifth monthly award is also a statistical milestone. The ICC says it extends the men's record and matches a five-award mark also held by West Indies women's captain Hayley Matthews. Readers should avoid confusing this monthly honour with an annual ICC Cricketer of the Year award.
Verma's month: power, consistency and wickets
Shafali Verma's case is built on several matches rather than one isolated knock. The ICC credits her with 360 runs during India's successful Women's Asia Cup campaign at a strike rate of 184.61, plus six wickets during the period under review.
She also made 100 not out in the Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh and contributed 48 in the final against Sri Lanka. Those contributions mattered in knockout games, where a strong start can immediately change the required pace of the innings.
Verma's second monthly award follows an earlier honour in November 2025. Her September performance underscores the importance of top-order batting in short-form cricket, while also showing the value of secondary bowling contributions in a tournament campaign.
Who else was shortlisted?
The men's finalists included India's Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. The women's shortlist featured Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India's Sree Charani alongside Verma. Being shortlisted means those players were considered for the same month; it should not be reported as a ranking of the other players' overall careers.
The ICC notes that this was the fifth occasion on which men's and women's winners came from the same national board, and the third such double for India. Those are records about the award's history, not claims about a country's superiority across every cricket format.
What the awards signal for Indian cricket
For the men's side, Gill's innings reinforces the value of top-order stability in large ODI chases. For the women's side, Verma's Asia Cup and Asian Games form provides evidence of strong batting options ahead of future ICC events. But the awards alone do not predict results in upcoming tournaments: team balance, conditions, opposition and fitness still determine performances.
What comes next?
The ICC announces nominees and winners each month based on the preceding month's international performances. Fans can follow upcoming shortlists on the official awards page, while tournament calendars remain the reliable source for match dates.
Bottom line: Gill's record fifth monthly prize and Verma's second make October 13 a notable award day for Indian cricket, with detailed match statistics supporting both selections rather than hype alone.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the ICC September 2026 Player of the Month awards?
Shubman Gill won the men’s award and Shafali Verma won the women’s award.
How many times has Shubman Gill won the monthly award?
The ICC says this was his fifth win, a record in the men’s category.
What was Gill’s standout ODI score?
He scored 223 from 133 balls against the West Indies in a successful chase of 406.
Why did Shafali Verma win?
Her September performances included 360 Asia Cup runs at a strike rate of 184.61 and major contributions during the Asian Games.
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Sources and reporting notes
Featured photo: Sudhakar Chandra / Unsplash. Illustrative cricket-stadium image; it does not depict the ICC award ceremony or winners.
This article summarizes information available as of October 14, 2026 (IST). The linked primary or attributable reports support the dated factual claims; observations and practical guidance are editorial analysis.