India's batting sensation Shubman Gill's recent exploits has earned him a coveted ICC Men's Player of the Month Award in September 2023, which is his second time in the same year. Gill pipped his own teammate Mohammed Siraj to achieve taste this glory. Gill won the ICC Men's Player of the Month Award right ahead of the India versus Pakistan's clash on October 14.
Gill won the ICC Men's Player of the Month Award in January 2023, when he took the cricketing world by storm with his maiden double century in ODI cricket, etching his name into the annals of cricketing greats.
Beside his double accolade from the ICC, Gill also distinguished himself as the first Indian cricketer to win this award more than once. Gill boasts off a phenomenal track record in ODIs this year, racking up an impressive 1230 runs with five centuries to his name. Yet, the star batter had his setbacks, missing the first two matches of India's ODI World Cup campaign as he was diagnosed with dengue.
As far as Women's cricket is concerned, the brilliant Sri Lankan Chamari Athapaththu, garnered recognition by seizing the ICC Women's Player of the Month title, underpinned by her remarkable T20I batting and bowling performances. These monumental efforts culminated in Sri Lanka's debut series victory on English grounds.
What made Gill win ICC Men's Player of the Month Award?
Gill kicked off September delivering consistent half-centuries against teams like Nepal and Pakistan. His magnum opus came to the fore against Bangladesh in Colombo, where he notched a stellar century and also played an instrumental role in India's Asia Cup triumph. Even post the Asia Cup, Gill's bat continued to talk, scoring 74 runs in Mohali and a rapid 104 in Indore against Australia. His overall performance for the month was a staggering 480 runs with an average of 80 and a strike rate of nearly 100.
Sharing his sentiments on the accolade, Gill expressed his delight and gratitude. He remarked, "I am delighted to have won the ICC Player of the Month award for the month of September. It's a great privilege to represent India at the international level... This award will further motivate me... I take this opportunity to thank all my teammates, family, and the coaches," as per the official ICC statement.
Meanwhile, all eyes are stuck on the high-octane ODI World Cup drama between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 14. In a big boost to Team India, Gill is set to feature in the all-important match, having recovered from dengue. India's campaign began on a stunning note, securing victories over Australia and Afghanistan in their first two matches.
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