ICC Men's Player of the Month Nominees: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Sikandar Raza Shine

Outstanding Performances in September

India's Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, along with Zimbabwe's all-rounder Sikandar Raza, have been nominated for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for September 2026 due to their remarkable contributions in white-ball cricket.

Abhishek Sharma's Stellar September

Abhishek Sharma showcased his explosive batting during India's T20I series against Afghanistan, bouncing back after a lackluster performance in his previous ten T20 innings, where he managed only one half-century. He made a significant impact in the first match held in Delhi, scoring 82 runs off just 32 balls, which included seven fours and seven sixes. His half-century came in a mere 22 deliveries, helping India chase down a target of 157 with 38 balls remaining, earning him the Player of the Match title.

Continuing his aggressive style, Sharma scored 39 runs off 19 balls in the second T20I at a strike rate of 205.26. In the third match, he delivered a record-breaking performance, scoring 108 runs off 45 balls, reaching his century in just 30 balls, marking the fastest T20I century by a player from a Full Member nation. His fifty was achieved in 16 balls, and his strike rate of 317.64 set a new record for Indian T20I innings. He hit 11 sixes, the second-most by an Indian in a T20I innings, and partnered with Sanju Samson to help India achieve their highest-ever Powerplay score of 100/0. Abhishek was named Player of the Match again and also received the Player of the Series award, finishing the series with 229 runs at an average of 76.33.

Sikandar Raza's All-Round Excellence

Sikandar Raza demonstrated his crucial role for Zimbabwe with impressive performances against Australia, despite his team's loss in the three-match ODI series. In the first ODI, after Zimbabwe lost four wickets while chasing a challenging target, Raza steadied the innings with a composed 57 runs, forming a 98-run partnership with Craig Ervine.

He followed this with a solid 45 runs off 45 balls in the second ODI, contributing vital runs in the middle order against the reigning ODI World Cup champions. In the final ODI, Raza remained unbeaten on 81 runs off 72 balls, coming in during the 29th over with wickets falling around him. His innings helped Zimbabwe set a competitive total of 271/8, and he also took two wickets, dismissing Oliver Peake and Josh Inglis, who had scored a century, showcasing his all-round capabilities.

Shubman Gill's Record-Setting Month

Shubman Gill's September was marked by significant achievements and a remarkable ODI innings, as the India captain and No. 1-ranked ODI batter excelled in the series against the West Indies. In the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram, Gill anchored India's chase of 296 runs, scoring 110 runs off 108 balls, marking his 10th ODI century, and his partnership with Virat Kohli ensured a comfortable victory.

Gill's extraordinary performance continued in the second ODI in Guwahati, where India chased down 406 runs, achieving the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history in just 43.3 overs. He led the charge with an unbeaten double-century, scoring 223 runs off 133 balls, which included 26 fours and eight sixes. His double-century came off just 117 balls, and he set a new record for the fastest ODI century by an Indian captain, reaching his hundred in 62 balls. His 223 not out is the fastest double-century in ODI history and the highest individual score in a successful chase. With a century in the first match and a record-breaking double-century in Guwahati, Gill's outstanding performances solidified his candidacy for the Player of the Month award.