Shafali Verma, Sree Charani, and Chamari Athapaththu Nominated for ICC Women's Player of the Month

Nominees for ICC Women's Player of the Month

India's Shafali Verma and Sree Charani, alongside Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu, have been nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for September 2026. This recognition follows their exceptional performances during the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games, which were held consecutively.

Shafali Verma's Stellar September

Shafali Verma had an outstanding month, leading India to victory in the Women’s Asia Cup and clinching gold at the Asian Games. She scored a remarkable 360 runs in seven T20 matches, averaging 72.00 with a strike rate of 184.61. Additionally, she contributed with the ball, taking six wickets at an average of 13.00 and an economy rate of 4.33.

In the Women’s Asia Cup, Verma was the top run-scorer, amassing 236 runs in five innings. Her performance included a score of 64 in the semi-final against Bangladesh and 68 in the final against Sri Lanka, which helped India secure its eighth Asia Cup title.

Continuing her form at the Asian Games in Japan, she scored 188 runs in three innings. After an unbeaten 40 against Japan, Verma achieved her first T20I century in the semi-final against Bangladesh, scoring 100 off just 49 balls. She followed this with 48 runs in the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka, contributing to a 147-run victory. Throughout the month, she also took two wickets in the Asia Cup and four in the Asian Games, with two of her Asian Games wickets coming in the crucial final.

Athapaththu's All-Round Brilliance

Chamari Athapaththu showcased her all-round capabilities in September, leading Sri Lanka to the finals of both the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games. Over seven T20 matches, she scored 226 runs at an average of 37.66 and a strike rate of 140.37. Her bowling was equally impressive, with 14 wickets at an average of 10.21 and an economy rate of 6.08.

One of her standout performances came during the Women’s Asia Cup against Indonesia, where she achieved remarkable bowling figures of 7/5 and completed a hat-trick. This performance ranks as the fifth-best in Women’s T20Is and marked only the sixth instance of a bowler taking seven or more wickets in a Women’s T20I.

At the Asian Games, Athapaththu scored 175 runs in three innings, starting with a 63 against Malaysia and finishing with an unbeaten 83 off 50 balls against Pakistan in the semi-final, which secured Sri Lanka's place in the gold-medal match. She ended the tournament as Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer and contributed three wickets as the team earned a silver medal.

Sree Charani's Record-Setting Month

Sree Charani played a pivotal role in India's triumph in the Women’s Asia Cup and their successful defense of the Asian Games gold medal in women's cricket. The left-arm spinner took 18 wickets in seven T20 matches during September, averaging 4.83 with an economy rate of 3.30.

During the Women’s Asia Cup, Charani claimed 12 wickets, including impressive figures of 4/20 in the final against Sri Lanka. She maintained her excellent form at the Asian Games, achieving 4/10 against Japan, followed by 2/7 against Bangladesh and 2/13 against Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match. Her performance brought her total for September to 18 wickets.

Charani's remarkable month was further highlighted by her ascent in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, where she reached 817 rating points, making her the highest-rated women’s T20I bowler in history, surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt, who previously held the record with 806 points. Her contributions were instrumental in helping India secure both the Asia Cup and Asian Games titles.