The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made its Player of the Month nominations public for the month of November, consisting of excellent players during the Test series, tri-series, and major women's tournaments. The men’s category sees the inclusion of the two veteran bowlers, Simon Harmer from South Africa, and Taijul Islam from Bangladesh, while Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is also a candidate for the award. The nominees for the women's prize are Esha Oza from the UAE, Thipatcha Putthawong from Thailand, and Shafali Verma, India’s World Cup final hero.

Harmer and Islam were key players in their series; Harmer contributed to the South African victory over the Indians, and Islam received credit for Bangladesh's clean sweep against Ireland. On the other hand, Nawaz’s all-rounder performances were instrumental in the success of the Pakistan team in the Tri-Series campaign, which included Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Putthawong and Oza were among the best players in the first-ever ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which took place in Bangkok. Putthawong’s incredible bowling was an important factor in Thailand taking the championship, while Oza moved the UAE to second place with her all-around talent. It was Verma who shone in India’s first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup win, and she grabbed her spot through her performance in the final as the Player of the Match.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Mitchell Starc picks this India star among his three best cricketers he has played with in his career

Men’s Shortlist Highlights

Simon Harmer (South Africa)

Harmer was the main contributor of South Africa’s remarkable 2-0 Test series triumph over India, the first in 25 years. The off-spinner took 17 wickets with an astonishing average of 8.94 in the two Tests. He was awarded Player of the Match for his eight-wicket feat in the first Test and was then again recognised as the Player of the Series for his six wickets for 37 runs in the second Test that culminated the series win.

Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)

Taijul’s home advantage continued to work well for him, and he ended up being the leading wicket-taker in Bangladesh’s 2-0 victory over Ireland. He got 13 wickets at 26.30, reliably breaking partnerships and getting the Player of the Series title.

Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)

Mohammad Nawaz put his versatility into practice in Pakistan's Tri-Series win. He had a total of 104 runs in ODIs with an average of 52.00, a strike rate of over 114, and four wickets. In T20Is, he contributed 52 runs along with an amazing 11 wickets at 12.72, which included a match-winning three-wicket haul for just 17 runs in the final.

Women’s Shortlist Features All-Round Brilliance

Esha Oza (UAE)

Oza's performances were exceptional in the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy. The player scored a total of 187 runs with a strike rate of 137.50 and got seven wickets with the best figures against Namibia of 68 not out and two wickets. Her regularity in scoring runs was the major reason for her being awarded the Player of the Tournament title.

Shafali Verma (India)

Shafali Verma’s audacious hitting helped India win the World Cup in the greatest way possible. The superstar scored 87 off 78 balls in the final and also took two important wickets, thus being named Player of the Match.

Thipatcha Putthawong (Thailand)

Putthawong’s left-arm spin was the key to Thailand’s title. She was the joint leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 15 wickets, four of which she took in the final against Scotland.

With South Africa setting a massive target of 549 runs for India to chase on the fifth day or even draw the second Test of the two-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, the Proteas’ potential defeat result could have been erased. India had a stiff task of seeing off 18 overs on the fourth day’s play and they ended up losing two crucial wickets.

The first one of it was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who continued his struggle against the left-arm pacer Marco Jansen getting dismissed to the fourth time in the longest format and twice in the Guwahati Test. The left-handed batter looked to cut the short ball and ended up getting a massive outside edge into the hands of Kyle Verreynne, the wicket-keeper.

See Also: Ravindra Jadeja breaks 115-year-old record during IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati

On the other hand, KL Rahul went back to the pavilion after being dismissed to Simon Harmer. The off-spinner, in his very first over, went through the forward defense of Rahul, who played a lazy drive late in the day’s play having already shut the shots he could have played to show a little intent.

Watch: Simon Harmer’s dream ball breaks KL Rahul’s forward defense in IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati

In the first innings of the game, Senuran Muthusamy managed 109 runs in 206 balls at a strike rate of 52.91 with the help of 10 boundaries and two sixes while Marco Jansen clubbed 93 runs in 91 balls at a strike rate of 102.20. Kuldeep Yadav collected four wickets in the innings.

KL Rahul dismissal #indvssa pic.twitter.com/xoHEgSFXck

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) November 25, 2025

Yashasvi Jaiswal collected 58 runs in the first innings of the Indian innings while Washington Sundar nailed 48 runs, and that was the only two contributions the Blue Brigade got from their two southpaws in the entire batting order.

In the third innings, Tristian Stubbs missed out his century landmark by six runs while Tony de Zorzi fell short of the half-century by one run with the Proteas setting a target of 549 runs for the Indian side or have 110 odd overs by the end of the game. India lost both openers- Jaiswal and Rahul- by the end of the day.

South Africa is facing two injury concerns before they travel to Guwahati for the second Test against India at the Barsapara Stadium. News18 CricketNext has learned that off-spinner Simon Harmer has a shoulder injury, and left-arm seamer Marco Jansen is also carrying a niggle. Both players went for check-ups at Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata, the same hospital where Shubman Gill was treated.

It is still not clear if these injuries will affect their participation in the Guwahati Test, starting on November 22. Harmer and Jansen were two of South Africa’s best performers in their historic 30-run win over India at the Eden Gardens. Harmer took 4/30 and 4/21, while Jansen picked up 3/25 and 2/15 in the two innings as they bowled India out for 189 and 93.

Harmer bowled almost 30 overs in the match, the most by any player from both teams. South Africa hope his injury is not serious and that he will be fit for the Guwahati Test, which is expected to help spinners again. The 36-year-old off-spinner is important because India may once more play a batting lineup with many left-handers.

If Harmer is ruled out, South Africa can bring in left-arm spin all-rounder Senuran Muthuswamy. Kagiso Rabada can replace Jansen if needed.

Also Read -Marco Jansen's historic 7-fer destroy Sri Lanka for 42 all out

India is facing the Gill Injury Issue

India also has their own injury concern. Shubman Gill suffered a neck problem in Kolkata and was in the hospital for several hours. At first, it looked like a small sprain, but it turned out to be more serious and needed specialist care.

Gill has been discharged but has not joined the team yet. The team continues to practice at Eden Gardens. As per reports, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has joined the squad

The South Africans pulled off a stunning 30-run win over India in a low-scoring thriller at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Chasing a modest target of 124 runs, India witnessed a dramatic batting collapse and were bowled out for just 93 on the third day. This was also South Africa's first Test triumph on Indian soil in 15 years.

But the match kept on being closely fought from the very beginning as momentum kept shifting. South Africa, after winning the toss, batted first but were bowled out for 159. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah came up with an excellent spell of 5/27 to give the hosts early control in the game. India replied with 189 in the first innings, managing to take a slender 30-run lead, with KL Rahul's composed 39 the highest score. Offspinner Simon Harmer was the standout performer for South Africa with 4/30.

Temba Bavuma played an unbeaten captain's knock of 55 to ensure stiff resistance for South Africa in the third innings. Eventually, the visitors got bowled out for 153, setting India a target of 124. However, India’s chase fell apart quickly as wickets tumbled one after another, struggling against the accuracy and turn produced by the South African spinners, especially Harmer, who picked four more wickets for just 21 runs.

Simon Harmer’s 8 wickets in the match helped South Africa win the game

The win for South Africa showed their fightback, having lost the first innings by 30 runs before they chased down a small target. Simon Harmer was the star of the match, ending with superb match figures of 8 wickets and taking apart India's batting in both innings. Adding to the woes, Indian skipper Shubman Gill retired hurt to a neck injury while batting in the first innings, which meant they were one batter short in the second innings. 

See Also: IND vs SA: BCCI's latest update on Shubman Gill’s neck injury after hospitalisation in Kolkata test

Washington Sundar showed some fight with a 31-run knock. For South Africa, Bavuma was the only one to bat well in the second innings to help get their team over 100. While Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets on Day 2, Kuldeep Yadav also took a couple of important wickets. but India couldn’t handle the pressure as South Africa completed a memorable win inside three days and now leads the series 1-0.

Fans reacted to India’s 30-run loss in the Kolkata Test by sharing funny memes on X (Twitter). Here are some of the best memes:

From sledging to hugging on your defeat 💀👀

#SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/GdzUWj28Ks

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

ICT fans after seeing the team is losing even the easy matches now.#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/EbHor82iI3

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

South Africa beat India by 30 runs to go 1-0 up in the series

Erippuk @GautamGambhir#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/zbBQozqJhr

— 𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓪𝑒𝓵  (@Rolex8170) November 16, 2025

GG era 🥲After 15 years we lost to SA in India and not able to chase the low target 😭

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/Uwp8MkZLco

— V I P E R (@VIPERoffl) November 16, 2025

- Lost NZ series and put all the blame on Rohit Sharma
- Lost Sl series
- Lost BGT
- Lost ODI Series vs Aus
- Played politics with Rohit and virat and silently diverted all the hate towards gill &
- Today after 15 years SA won a match lm indian soil

Ruined my beautiful ICT 💔. pic.twitter.com/HDx3wy6zbb

— Roesque (@LVR_HYPER09) November 16, 2025

Temba Bavuma after beating India :#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/X3SSxHgUvN

— 🅰️ J (@EHuman0) November 16, 2025

south africa didn't beat india - karma did. pic.twitter.com/ROns4F1ANW

— desi sigma (@desisigma) November 16, 2025

What will be your next excuse for this never ending defeat series 🧐😒

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/ZZ7RuGVQ5E

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

Bavuma gets the final laugh

What a game, and what a captain’s knock.

Give the man his due

South Africa won test in india after 15 years #INDvSA #INDvsSApic.twitter.com/Yfj8VXH2eG

— Ash (@Ashsay_) November 16, 2025

They trolled him for his height
Action speaks Louder than Words🔥.

Team India failed to chase 123 against South Africa! 🤯🥶

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/PU6RXkGgCH

— ALii ツ (@ALii__313) November 16, 2025

Pin-drop silence at the Eden Gardens. Simon Harmer dismissed Ravindra Jadeja as well. Jadeja took a DRS to review the on-field umpire's decision, but this time too, the umpire was on point. India lost a review and lost the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja.

The South Africa cricket team, champion of the World Test Championship (WTC), is fighting back in Kolkata. After the dismissal of Jadeja, Team India is in deep trouble. Simon Harmer has turned into the wrecker-in-chief for the Temba Bavuma-led side. On the first delivery of the 28th over of the second innings, the South African spinner drifted the delivery towards the batter.

Jadeja, the left-handed batter, got on the front foot to defend but was struck on the full side of his boot. A huge LBW was sought for by South Africa, and the umpire's finger went up. Jadeja, in disbelief, took a DRS call. But he had to go, as the UltraEdge technology confirmed that there was no bat involved with the ball. The ball hit his toe directly. Ball tracking came up with three reds, and India lost another wicket.

Read More: Watch: Rishabh Pant caught and bowl by Simon Harmer in IND vs SA 1st Test

Simon Harmer dismissed Ravindra Jadeja as well

Ravindra Jadeja walks back for 18 (26), and India is 64/5, needing another 60 runs to win. In the first innings too, Harmer took the wicket of Jadeja, through an LBW, almost in a similar fashion. In the low-scoring match, South Africa set a target of 124 for India in the second phase of the India vs South Africa 1st Test. 

Initially, despite the unavailability of Shubman Gill, India was considered the favorite to win the game. But South Africa is showing why they are the defending champion of WTC. Before dispatching Jadeja, Harmer helped his team to get rid of Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel. 

Variation of Simon Harmer again did the job for South Africa. He took the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant while the touring team was defending a target of 124 in the second innings of India vs South Africa 1st Test at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

In the absence of skipper Shubman Gill, Pant had a huge task to be done. India was already down by three men when he walked into the middle. In the first innings, the South African spin-bowling all-rounder Harmer claimed 4 wickets, and in the second innings, he was looking equally effective on the tricky track of Eden Gardens.

Pant, who is known for his unorthodox batting approach, was in discomfort against the tall spinner. During the 4th delivery of the 20th over of the second innings, Harmer offered extra flight with reduced pace to force the southpaw to get out of his shell. Pant fell on the trap.

Read More: “Andre Russell Hasn’t Done Much in Recent Years”: Ex-Captain Slams Star All-Rounder After IPL 2026 Retentions

Tossed up delivery from Harmer dismissed Rishabh Pant

Simon Harmer is causing problems 🪄

▪️ India need 86 runs to win 🇮🇳
▪️ South Africa need six wickets to win 🇿🇦

📺 Stream #INDvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/trBFBhTtkD

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) November 16, 2025

He tried to hit the ball straight down to the ground. In reality, he produced only a leading edge, which was gently carried to the safe hands of Simon Harmer. Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 2 off 13, and India lost their 4th wicket. As Gill is out of the equation because of the neck injury he received in the first innings, India effectively lost half of their batting strength as soon as Pant departed. 

With the scalp of Pant, Harmer got his 2nd in the final phase of the game. His pace variations and wicket-taking intention proved extremely effective at the Eden Gardens. His bowling quality improved from his days with the County Cricket Club Essex. Before the series against Pakistan, and now against India, the 36-year-old played a vital part for Essex by picking up wickets at regular intervals. 

The Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd Test at Rawalpindi created history, an event that had not been experienced previously in almost 150 years of Test cricket. The older players set a new record in Test cricket.

Domination of older players: Keshav Maharaj, Asif Afridi, and Simon Harmer recorded five-wicket hauls

In the first innings of the Test match, while Pakistan scored 333 runs, the 35-year-old South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj recorded a seven-wicket haul as he had the bowling figures of 42.4-5-102-7. After Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon (four times), Maharaj became the second non-Asian bowler to record multiple seven-wicket hauls in Test cricket in Asia, while he previously recorded it in the 2018 Colombo (SSC) Test against Sri Lanka by recording nine wickets (9/129).

While South Africa replied with 404 all out, the 38-year-old Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who made his international cricket debut, recorded the bowling figures of 34.3-6-79-6.

Pakistan were bundled out for only 138 runs in their second innings, where the 36-year-old off-spinner Simon Harmer claimed a six-fer, as he had the bowling figures of 20-5-50-6. 

See Also: Simon Harmer joins elite 1,000-wicket club with historic Test milestone

First time three different bowlers over 35 years old recorded five-wicket hauls

This is the first time in Test cricket history that three different bowlers over 35 years old recorded a fifer in a Test match. The record of two bowlers over 35 years old claimed the five-wicket haul in a Test match happened 10 times before the 2025 Rawalpindi Test match between Pakistan and South Africa. 

It was the must-win Test for South Africa to only level the series, as they suffered a defeat in the first Test of the two-match Test series by 93 runs at Lahore. While South Africa had a target of 68 runs in the fourth innings, they comfortably chased that target by losing two wickets, as they won the Test match by eight wickets. 

South African spinner Simon Harmer became only the fourth South African to reach 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket on 23 October 2025, during the second Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Harmer, who debuted in first-class cricket in 2009, has built a career defined by consistency and control. Before this series, he hadn’t played Test cricket since 2023, making his recall to the national team a surprise even to him. “I wasn’t expecting to be on the Pakistan tour,” Harmer said. “I want to compete on the biggest stage and deliver match-winning performances.”

Harmer’s First-Class Career Overview

• Five-wicket innings hauls: 58
• Ten-wicket match hauls: 14
• Best innings figures: 9/80 (Essex vs Derbyshire, 2021)

Harmer is now third on the list of South African bowlers with the most first-class wickets, behind Shaun von Berg (Boland) and Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins).

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma Becomes First Asian to Hit 150 Sixes in SENA Countries

All-Time First-Class Wickets Leaders

Maiden Test Five-for

Despite his prolific domestic career, Harmer had never taken a five-wicket haul in international cricket. That changed in Rawalpindi, where he claimed 6 wickets as Pakistan’s innings collapsed to 109 for 8, trailing South Africa by only 38 runs at lunch.

Key wickets:

• Babar Azam – 50 (LBW)
• Mohammad Rizwan – 1
• Noman Ali – 0
• Shaheen Shah Afridi – 0

Harmer’s tight lines and sharp turn, supported by Kagiso Rabada’s reverse swing, sparked a dramatic collapse. South Africa took 3 wickets for 4 runs, exposing Pakistan’s lower order and keeping themselves in strong contention for a rare win on Pakistani soil.

Legacy and Impact

Harmer’s achievement highlights both longevity and skill in professional cricket. After 58 first-class five-wicket hauls, finally claiming a Test fifer marks a career-defining moment. His accuracy, patience, and ability to exploit conditions make him a vital asset for South Africa, especially on spin-friendly pitches.

“I’ve always wanted to put in match-winning performances. Today, I finally did it at the international level,” Harmer reflected. Simon Harmer’s milestone cements his status as one of South Africa’s greatest spinners and a formidable figure in world cricket.