Shubman Gill won ICC Men’s Player of the Month for his stellar batting in the Asia Cup and ODI series, while Chamari Athapaththu claimed the Women’s award for her T20I heroics.
In the latest ICC Players of the Month awards for September, rising Indian batsman Shubman Gill was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for his exceptional run-scoring performances during India’s victorious Asia Cup campaign and the subsequent ODI series against Australia. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan cricket legend Chamari Athapaththu earned the ICC Women’s Player of the Month title for her outstanding contributions in T20Is.
The accolades for both players were decided through a combination of fan votes on icc-cricket.com and the deliberations of a distinguished panel, including ICC Hall of Famers, former international cricketers, and representatives from the media.
Gill, the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, has experienced a remarkable surge in form in 2023, rapidly climbing the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings and closing in on the August Player of the Month awardee, Pakistan’s Babar Azam. In September, Gill showcased his strength in ODI cricket, notching half-centuries against Nepal and Pakistan and an elegant century against Bangladesh in Colombo on the way to the final, where he calmly steered his team to a modest 51-run target. He continued his stellar performance in the series against Australia, amassing 480 runs in the month at an average of 80 and a strike rate of 99.37.
Gill secures his second 2023 Player of the Month award, beating fellow Indian Mohammed Siraj and England’s Dawid Malan, who showcased exceptional form in anticipation of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
“I am delighted to have won the ICC Player of the Month award for the month of September. It’s a great privilege to represent India at the international level and contribute towards the team’s cause. This award will further motivate me to continue to seek excellence and make the country proud,” Gill expressed, when talking about the win.
Chamari Athapaththu, the ICC Women’s Player of the Month, has been a consistent star for Sri Lanka on the global stage. In September, her exceptional performances reached new heights, earning her both her first Player of the Month award and a historic T20I series victory over England. After a narrow loss in the rain-affected first match, Athapaththu’s all-around brilliance came to the fore. She bowled economically, taking one wicket for 11 runs, and then blazed a 55-run innings to secure an eight-wicket victory. In the decisive game, her three wickets for 21 runs restricted England to a modest 116, and she guided her team to a seven-wicket win with a valuable 44 runs in 28 balls.
Athapaththu secures the award, narrowly surpassing her fellow nominees, the South African pair of Nadine de Klerk and Laura Wolvaardt.
“I am extremely happy to be named ICC Women’s Player of the Month, a recognition I consider not only owned by me, but by our entire team, as without them, I would not have been able to perform to my strengths.
“This award will definitely be a boost for me, my teammates, and our fans, who have been with the team throughout, giving their fullest support, and also be an encouragement for our young cricketers, thus showing them the path,” said Athapaththu.
Last Updated on October 13, 2023
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