Shubman Gill won his fifth ICC Player of the Month award on 13 October 2026, recognising his outstanding performances in September. The Indian batter received the men’s award after scoring heavily in the One Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies. His achievement set a record for the most ICC Player of the Month awards won by a male cricketer. Gill’s latest honour follows four previous wins in January 2023, September 2023, February 2025 and July 2025. Shafali Verma of India won the women’s award for September 2026.

Shubman Gill Creates a Record with His Fifth ICC Award

Shubman Gill’s fifth monthly award highlights his strong performances in international cricket. He earned the recognition after producing impressive innings during India’s ODI series against the West Indies in September 2026.

Gill’s previous ICC Player of the Month awards came in January 2023, September 2023, February 2025 and July 2025. His fifth award placed him at the top among male recipients of the monthly honour.

Gill’s total also matched the overall tally of West Indies women’s cricket captain Hayley Matthews, who has won five awards in the women’s category. This makes the achievement notable across both men’s and women’s international cricket.

The ICC Player of the Month award recognises players for their performances during a particular calendar month. Gill’s September performances included a century in Thiruvananthapuram and a remarkable double-century in Guwahati, helping India achieve successful results against the West Indies.

Gill Scores a Century in Thiruvananthapuram

In the first ODI against the West Indies, played in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 September 2026, Gill scored 110 runs from 108 balls. India won the match by eight wickets.

A century in cricket means scoring at least 100 runs in a single innings. Gill’s century helped India complete the chase and gave the team a strong start to the ODI series.

His innings combined steady batting with the ability to score runs consistently. In limited-overs cricket, batters must balance the need to build a strong innings with the need to score at a pace that helps their team reach the target.

Gill’s performance in the opening match was followed by an even bigger innings in the second ODI. His ability to score heavily in consecutive matches was a major reason for his recognition in the monthly awards.

Shubman Gill’s Unbeaten 223 in Guwahati

Gill produced one of the most notable innings of his career in the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati on 30 September 2026. Batting as India’s captain, he scored an unbeaten 223 runs from just 133 balls.

India were chasing a target of 406 runs. Gill’s innings played a central role in the successful chase, as he remained unbeaten and guided the team towards the target.

His double-century included 26 fours and eight sixes. A four is scored when the ball reaches the boundary after touching the ground, while a six is awarded when the ball crosses the boundary without touching the ground.

According to the supplied report, Gill reached his double-century in 117 balls, making it the fastest double-century in ODI history. His innings also set a new mark for the highest individual score by a captain in a successful ODI chase.

He scored his century in 62 balls, which the report identified as the fastest ODI century by an Indian captain. These achievements made his Guwahati innings a major highlight of September’s international cricket.

What Is the ICC Player of the Month Award?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the Player of the Month awards in 2021. The awards recognise outstanding performances by international cricketers during each calendar month.

There are separate categories for male and female players. The awards give recognition to performances across international cricket and highlight players who have made a significant contribution to their teams.

A player’s performance may be judged through factors such as runs scored, wickets taken, match-winning contributions and consistency during the month. The award provides a way to recognise achievements across different international series and competitions.

Gill’s fifth award reflects his performances across several years, while his September 2026 results provided the basis for his latest recognition.

Shafali Verma Wins the Women’s Award

India also received the women’s ICC Player of the Month award for September 2026. Shafali Verma won the honour for her performances in the Asia Cup and Asian Games, according to the supplied report.

Verma is known for her attacking batting style and ability to score quickly. Her award alongside Gill’s means Indian cricketers won both monthly categories for September 2026.

Recognition in the women’s category also highlights the growing visibility of women’s international cricket. Events such as the Asia Cup and Asian Games provide players with opportunities to represent India and compete against strong international teams.

Winning both awards is a notable result for Indian cricket, bringing attention to performances in both the men’s and women’s games.

Understanding One Day International Cricket

One Day International cricket, commonly called ODI cricket, is a limited-overs format in which each team can bat for a maximum of 50 overs. Each over normally consists of six legal deliveries.

The team batting first sets a target by scoring runs. The opposing team then attempts to reach that target during its innings. A match can end when a team loses all its wickets, uses its allotted overs or successfully completes the chase.

A successful chase occurs when the team batting second reaches the target set by the first team. India’s pursuit of 406 runs against the West Indies in Guwahati was a high-scoring example of this format.

ODI cricket requires batters to combine patience with attacking play. Players must build partnerships, rotate the strike, find scoring opportunities and adjust their approach according to the match situation.

Gill’s unbeaten 223 demonstrated his ability to score quickly over a long innings. His performance in Guwahati, combined with his century in Thiruvananthapuram, helped secure the fifth ICC Player of the Month award of his career.