Dubai: India’s dynamic cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav in the men’s category, and Smriti Mandhana in the women’s section, have been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month awards for September.
Left-handed T20 specialist Abhishek Sharma was in sensational form during India’s Asia Cup-winning campaign in the UAE, earning the ‘Player of the Tournament’ title for his 314 runs in seven T20Is. His tally included three half-centuries at a staggering strike rate of 200. The 25-year-old also achieved the highest batting rating in men’s T20I history, reaching 931 points.
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav enjoyed a dream run in the high-pressure tournament, where India defeated rivals Pakistan three times. He emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an economy rate of 6.27. Kuldeep opened the Asia Cup with impressive figures of 4/7 against the UAE and concluded with 4/30 in India’s title-clinching win over Pakistan.
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett completes the men’s nominations after an outstanding September. He scored 497 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 55.22 and a strike rate of 165.66, topping the charts in series against Sri Lanka and Namibia. Bennett carried his form into the T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final, scoring 72, 65, and 111 in his first three innings, helping Zimbabwe qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
In the women’s category, India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana, who was named ‘Player of the Series’ against Australia in the recent three-match ODI series, has been nominated. The left-hander amassed 308 runs in four ODIs at an average of 77 and a strike rate of 135.68, including scores of 58, 117, and 125. Her centuries in the second and third matches helped India stay competitive, although the series ended 2-1 in Australia’s favour.
Pakistan opener Sidra Amin and South Africa’s Tazmin Brits complete the nominations for the women’s award.
