ICC Men’s Player of the Month nominees for September 2026 named
Sensational white-ball performances headline the shortlist for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month honour for September.
Abhishek Sharma (India)
Abhishek Sharma rediscovered his explosive best during India’s T20I series against Afghanistan. Before the series, Abhishek had managed just one half-century across his previous 10 T20 innings, making his subsequent return to form all the more emphatic.
The series opener in Delhi saw the left-hander make an immediate impact, smashing 82 from just 32 balls. He brought up his half-century in only 22 deliveries, with seven fours and seven sixes powering India towards a comfortable chase of 157. India reached the target with 38 balls to spare, with Abhishek named Player of the Match.
He continued his attacking approach in the second T20I, scoring 39 from 19 deliveries at a strike rate of 205.26. With India already holding an unassailable series lead, the third match gave Abhishek the chance to bat first for the first time in the series, and he produced the performance of the contest.
Abhishek smashed a record-breaking 108 from just 45 balls, bringing up his century in only 30 deliveries. It was the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member nation. His fifty came from just 16 balls, joint-fourth fastest by an Indian in men’s T20Is, while his final strike rate of 317.64 was also the highest by an Indian in a T20I innings. He struck 11 sixes, the second-most by an Indian in a T20I innings, and his partnership with Sanju Samson helped India post their highest-ever Powerplay score of 100/0.
Another Player of the Match award followed, along with the Player of the Series honour for the No.2 ranked T20I batter. Abhishek finished the three-match series with 229 runs at an average of 76.33, putting together one of the most explosive individual campaigns of September.
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)
Sikandar Raza once again showed why he remains one of Zimbabwe’s most dependable players, producing a series of determined performances against Australia despite Zimbabwe ultimately losing the three-match ODI series.
The No. 2-ranked ODI all-rounder played a crucial role in the opening match after Zimbabwe slipped to four wickets down while chasing a tricky target. Raza steadied the innings with a composed 57 and shared a 98-run partnership with Craig Ervine to give Zimbabwe a chance in the chase.
He followed that with a 45-ball 45 in the second ODI, continuing to provide valuable runs through the middle order as Zimbabwe battled the reigning Cricket World Cup champions.
The final ODI brought another statement performance. Coming to the crease in the 29th over with wickets falling around him, Raza remained unbeaten on 81 from 72 balls, helping Zimbabwe reach 271/8. His innings included the composure and power needed to lift the total in a closely fought contest.
Raza also made an impact with the ball in the final match, dismissing Oliver Peake and Josh Inglis, who had scored a century. Across the series, his contributions with both bat and ball once again highlighted his all-round value to Zimbabwe.
Shubman Gill (India)
Shubman Gill’s September was defined by milestones and one extraordinary ODI innings. The India captain and the No. 1-ranked ODI batter produced a remarkable series against the West Indies.
Chasing 296 in Thiruvananthapuram, Gill anchored the innings from the top of the order and went on to score 110 from 108 balls. It was his 10th ODI century, and his partnership with Virat Kohli helped India complete the chase with authority.
The second ODI in Guwahati produced something even more exceptional. Chasing a mammoth 406, India pulled off the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, reaching the target in 43.3 overs. At the heart of the record-breaking pursuit was an unbeaten double-century from Gill.
He accelerated from fifty to hundred and then beyond, eventually finishing on 223 not out from 133 balls. His innings featured 26 fours and eight sixes, with his double-century coming from just 117 deliveries. He also struck his hundred in 62 balls, setting a new mark for the fastest century by an Indian captain in the format.
Gill’s 223* became the fastest-ever in the format, and also is the highest individual score in a successful ODI chase. With a century in the opening match followed by a record-breaking double-century in Guwahati, his September campaign was one of the most prolific individual stretches of the month and places him firmly in contention for the Player of the Month honour.