India’s cricketing talents, Abhishek Sharma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, have both been recognized as the ICC Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for September 2025. This prestigious honor comes after a series of outstanding performances that showcased their remarkable consistency and significant impact on the field.
Abhishek Sharma, at just 25 years old, secured the men’s award following a spectacular run in the Asia Cup. He blazed through seven T20Is, accumulating an impressive 314 runs at an average of 44.85 and a staggering strike rate of 200. His three half-centuries were pivotal, especially in guiding India to a semi-final victory over Sri Lanka and into the final showdown.
“It truly feels fantastic to win this ICC award,” Sharma expressed, “and I’m particularly happy that it’s for crucial matches where I could help my team secure wins. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a squad that can overcome challenging situations. Our recent performance in T20Is is a testament to our exceptional team culture and unwavering positive mindset.”
Sharma’s brilliant form also saw him achieve a career-high rating of 931 points on the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings, surpassing England’s Dawid Malan’s previous record of 919 points set in 2020. His impactful innings included scores of 75 against Pakistan and 74 against Bangladesh during the group stage, consistently providing India with dynamic starts.
On the women’s side, Smriti Mandhana was deservedly honored for her extraordinary batting prowess in September. Her standout performances came during the ODI series against Australia, a crucial lead-up to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. She amassed a remarkable 308 runs across four matches, boasting an average of 77 and an impressive strike rate of 135.68. This included two sensational centuries, with her 50-ball hundred in the series decider becoming the second-fastest in Women’s ODI history.
“Receiving the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for September 2025 is a deep honor,” Mandhana stated. “Such recognition inspires me to continuously improve and evolve as a player. More importantly, it highlights the collective support, trust, and effort that we all put in as a team.”
These accolades underscore the dominant and consistent form of India’s top batting stars across different formats. Both Sharma and Mandhana have consistently led from the front, delivering critical contributions to their sides in high-pressure matches.