Shubman Gill makes history with fifth ICC Player of the Month Award, surpasses Kohli and Bumrah

Indian captain Shubman Gill has made history by winning the ICC Player of the Month award for September 2026. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced his fifth win on Tuesday, making him the first cricketer to achieve this milestone.

Gill won the award ahead of fellow Indian Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. His fifth win also sees him surpass former India captain Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in the number of ICC Player of the Month awards won.

Gill earned the honour after his impressive performances in the ODI series against the West Indies. Meanwhile, India's Shafali Verma won the Women's Player of the Month award for September after her key contributions to India's success in the Women's Asia Cup and Asian Games. This was her second time winning the award and the third time India swept both monthly honours in the same month.

Shubman Gill wins ICC Player of the Month for a record fifth time

Shubman Gill won the ICC Player of the Month award for September 2026 for a record fifth time in the men's category. He earned the honour after an impressive ODI series against the West Indies, while India's Shafali Verma won the women's award for the second time following her performances in the Women's Asia Cup and Asian Games. This was the third time India won both monthly awards in the same month.

With his fifth win, Gill has matched West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who has also won the ICC Player of the Month award five times across the men's and women's categories. Gill's latest achievement further highlights his consistent performances for India.

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Speaking about his achievement, Gill said, “It feels fantastic to win my fifth ICC Player of the Month award, and I am grateful to the panel for this honour. It was immensely satisfying to score those runs and even more special to be part of successful run chases in front of our home fans, whose support always gives us an extra boost,” as quoted by the ICC.

How Gill’s performances earned him the award and moved him past Kohli and Bumrah

Shubman Gill earned the ICC Player of the Month award for September 2026 after delivering outstanding performances against the West Indies. He scored 110 runs in the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram, helping India chase down 296 runs and win by eight wickets. In the second ODI in Guwahati, Gill produced an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls as India successfully chased a target of 406 runs, winning the match by eight wickets.

Gill's double century included 26 fours and eight sixes. He reached his hundred in just 62 balls and completed his double century in 117 balls, setting records in ODI cricket. He also shared a 255-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, who scored 101 off 75 balls. Although India lost the third ODI on October 3, the team won the series 2-1, and Gill's remarkable performances helped him secure his fifth ICC Player of the Month award.

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Gill has now moved ahead of former India captain Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in the number of ICC Player of the Month awards won by Indian men's cricketers. Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer have won the award twice each, while several other Indian stars have received the honour once.

Indian men's cricketers who have won the ICC Player of the Month award:

Fans react as Gill looks ahead to India’s next series

Shubman Gill's record fifth ICC Player of the Month award has sparked excitement among cricket fans, who praised his consistent performances for India. His impressive century and double century against the West Indies in September helped him secure the award and set new records in ODI cricket.

Fans took to social media to celebrate Gill's achievement, with many calling him the future of Indian cricket. His growing list of records and match-winning performances has further strengthened his position as one of India's key players across formats. Here is how the fans reacted:

With the West Indies ODI series behind him, Gill will now look ahead to India's upcoming assignments. Fans will be eager to see him continue his fine form and lead India to more victories in the matches ahead.