ICC Player of the Month September: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Sikandar Raza in Race for Top Honour
New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month award for September 2026, with India’s Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill joined by Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza in the three-player shortlist.
All three players produced impressive performances in white-ball cricket during the month, setting up an exciting contest for the monthly award.
Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive September
Abhishek Sharma returned to his attacking best during India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
The left-handed opener scored 229 runs in four T20Is, including a stunning century that underlined his ability to change the game within a few overs.
In the opening match in Delhi, Abhishek smashed 82 runs from only 32 balls, reaching his half-century in 22 deliveries. He followed it up with a 39 off 19 balls in the second game.
His biggest performance came in the third T20I, when he produced a record-breaking 108 off 34 balls. His century came in just 30 deliveries, making it the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter and the fastest by a batter from a Full Member nation.
Abhishek also finished the series with the Player of the Series award.
Shubman Gill’s Record-Breaking ODI Run
India captain Shubman Gill is another strong contender after an extraordinary ODI series against the West Indies.
Gill accumulated 333 runs in two ODIs, including two centuries.
He first scored 110 runs in Thiruvananthapuram, helping India chase down a target of 296.
However, it was his performance in Guwahati that made headlines around the cricket world. Chasing 406, Gill smashed an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls, featuring 26 fours and eight sixes.
His double-century helped India complete the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history. The innings was also the fastest ODI double-century ever recorded, according to the ICC.
Gill’s spectacular month has put the India captain firmly in contention for his fifth ICC Player of the Month award.
Sikandar Raza’s All-Round Impact
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza completed the shortlist after producing consistent performances against Australia.
Raza scored 183 runs in three ODIs, including scores of 57, 45 and an unbeaten 81. He also picked up three wickets during the series.
His unbeaten 81 in the final ODI helped Zimbabwe post a competitive total after the team had lost wickets at regular intervals.
Raza also contributed with the ball, underlining his value as one of Zimbabwe’s most important all-rounders.
According to the ICC’s award statistics, Raza’s September tally across the relevant matches stood at 273 runs and five wickets in six matches.
Who Will Win the September Award?
The final decision will be made through the ICC’s voting process, involving an independent ICC Voting Academy and fans around the world. The Voting Academy accounts for 90% of the vote, while registered fan votes make up the remaining 10%.
With Abhishek’s explosive T20 performances, Gill’s record-breaking ODI campaign and Raza’s all-round contribution, the September award promises to be a closely watched contest.
Fans can cast their votes through the ICC’s official awards platform, with voting scheduled to close on October 10, 2026.