Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill Nominated for ICC Player of the Month
India's Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill join Sikandar Raza for the ICC Men's Player of the Month nominees for September 2026.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month award for September 2026, featuring a heavy dose of Indian excellence. India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma and captain Shubman Gill have both secured nominations alongside Zimbabwe’s versatile all-rounder Sikandar Raza.
The nominations come on the heels of a month defined by record-breaking feats, massive run chases, and historic milestones in white-ball cricket.
Abhishek Sharma: A T20I Powerhouse
Abhishek Sharma’s September was nothing short of legendary, particularly during India’s T20I series against Afghanistan. After a period of inconsistent form, the left-hander exploded back onto the scene with a blistering 82 off just 32 balls in the series opener in Delhi.
His dominance reached a fever pitch in the third T20I, where he etched his name into the record books. Sharma struck a record-breaking 108 off just 45 balls, marking the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member nation. His performance included:
- A staggering strike rate of 317.64, the highest by an Indian in a T20I innings.
- Reaching his century in a mere 30 deliveries.
- Helping India post the highest-ever Powerplay score of 100/0.
Sharma finished the three-match series with 229 runs at an average of 76.33, earning him the Player of the Series award.
Shubman Gill: Captain's Knock and ODI Records
While Sharma dominated the shortest format, Shubman Gill rewrote the history books in ODI cricket during a high-scoring series against the West Indies. The India captain, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, showcased immense temperament and aggression.
In the opening ODI at Thiruvananthapuram, Gill anchored the chase with a composed 110, marking his 10th ODI century. However, it was the second ODI in Guwahati that stunned the cricketing world. In a pursuit of a massive 406, Gill played an unprecedented unbeaten 223 off 133 balls.
This innings stood out for several historic reasons:
- It was the fastest double-century in ODI history.
- He set a new record for the fastest ODI century by an Indian captain.
- His knock secured the second-highest successful run chase in the history of ODI cricket.
Sikandar Raza: The Zimbabwean Anchor
Completing the trio of nominees is Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who proved to be a lone warrior against a formidable Australian side. Despite Zimbabwe losing the ODI series, Raza’s individual contributions were immense.
Raza displayed remarkable resilience, particularly in the final ODI where he remained unbeaten on 81 off 72 balls to help Zimbabwe reach a competitive total of 271. His ability to stabilize the middle order and contribute with the ball—including dismissing key Australian batters—underscored his status as one of the world's premier all-rounders.