India celebrated a double triumph as the International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced its Player of the Month winners for September, with openers Abhishek Sharma and Smriti Mandhana clinching the men's and women's accolades, respectively, following a series of powerhouse performances.
Abhishek Sharma Crowned Men's Player of the Month
Young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma was named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for his explosive and consistent batting at the top of the order during the title-winning Asia Cup. Sharma, 25, was the tournament's leading run-scorer and its Player of the Tournament.
Asia Cup Dominance: Sharma amassed 314 runs across seven T20Is in September at a remarkable average of 44.85 and a striking strike rate of 200, including three vital half-centuries.
Ranking Milestone: His exceptional form propelled him to a career-high 931 rating points in the ICC Men's T20I Batter Rankings, setting a new all-time record, surpassing the previous best set by England's Dawid Malan in 2020.
Key Contributions: His crucial knocks included scores of 75 against Pakistan and 74 against Bangladesh, consistently providing India with blistering starts.
Recognition: Sharma edged out teammate Kuldeep Yadav and Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett for the award.
"It feels great to win this ICC award, and I am happy that it has come for some important matches that I could help win," Sharma said. "I am proud to be part of a team that can pull off victories from the most difficult of situations. Our recent track record in T20Is reflects our outstanding team culture and positive mindset."
Smriti Mandhana Wins Women's Player of the Month
India's vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, secured the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for her sensational run in the ODI series against Australia in the lead-up to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
Batting Brilliance: Mandhana was in imperial form, scoring 308 runs in four ODIs during the month at an outstanding average of 77.00 and a strike rate of 135.68.
Record-Breaking Centuries: Her tally included two magnificent centuries, highlighted by a blistering 50-ball hundred in the series decider, marking the fastest century by an Indian batter in Women's ODI history. She recorded scores of 58, 117, and 125 across the series.
Competition: Mandhana was chosen over South Africa's Tazmin Brits and Pakistan's Sidra Amin.
"I am truly honoured to receive the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for September 2025," Mandhana stated. "A recognition like this pushes me to keep growing and evolving as a player. The recognition also reflects the support, trust, and effort we put in together collectively as a team."
Both players were selected following a voting process involving a specialist panel of former international players and media representatives, as well as global cricket fans.