223 off 133 balls, fifth ICC award: Shubman Gill makes history as Shafali Verma shines

Fifth crown

Five awards, one remarkable record. Shubman Gill has claimed his fifth ICC Men's Player of the Month honour, matching West Indies star Hayley Matthews for the most wins across the men's and women's categories. The 27-year-old Indian captain added another milestone to his career after a sensational ODI series against the West Indies, including a record-breaking double-century.

Chase carnage

Chasing 406 should have been a daunting task. Instead, Shubman Gill turned it into a batting spectacle, smashing 223 off just 133 balls against the West Indies. India reportedly reached the target with eight wickets and 39 balls to spare. His extraordinary knock followed a century in the series opener, strengthening his claim to the ICC award.

Shafali storm

Shafali Verma didn't just score runs; she dominated crucial matches. The 22-year-old opener piled up 360 runs at a blistering strike rate of 184.61 and claimed six wickets as India won the Women's Asia Cup. She then struck an unbeaten century against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal and scored 48 in the final against Sri Lanka, earning another ICC monthly honour.

Double delight

Two Indian stars, two ICC awards, one memorable month. Shubman Gill and Shafali Verma have completed another Indian sweep of the men's and women's Player of the Month honours. It follows similar double victories by Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana in June 2024, and Abhishek Sharma and Mandhana in September 2025, underlining India's growing presence in the monthly awards.