Two Indians nominated for ICC Player of the Month award for March 2026

Published - 06 Apr 2026, 14:29 IST | Updated - 06 Apr 2026, 14:39 IST

India opener Sanju Samson, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and South Africa batter Connor Esterhuizen have been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for March 2026, while New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr, Australia batter Beth Mooney and South Africa seam bowler Ayabonga Khaka are in contention for the women’s honour.

Samson’s sizzling form towards the end of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which earned him the Player of the Tournament award, puts him in the fray alongside Jasprit Bumrah, the Player of the Match in the final. Rookie Esterhuizen completes the shortlist following an outstanding debut T20I series in New Zealand that saw one of the best statistics after five T20Is by anyone from his country.

Kerr’s outstanding efforts in ODIs and T20Is during this period against Zimbabwe and South Africa make a strong case for her third ICC Player of the Month award while Mooney also had fine performances across the two formats against India and the West Indies. Khaka was the leading wicket-taker in their T20I series in New Zealand that was followed with an outstanding effort in their first ODI.

Samson did not get to play in the early part of the tournament but was the standout performer in the big games and helped India retain the title. He struck 97 not out against the West Indies in what was a virtual quarter-final in Kolkata and followed it with knocks of 89 in the semi-final against England in Mumbai and the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

In the same set of matches, Bumrah grabbed seven wickets at an average of 12.00 and an economy rate of 7.00. He picked up three wickets in the two matches against the West Indies and England and then produced match-winning figures of four for 15 in four overs against New Zealand in the final.

Esterhuizen scored 200 runs at an average of 50 and a strike-rate of 145.98, helping complete a 3-2 win in New Zealand. Named Player of the Series, he reached 551 rating points in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, the second highest after five matches by a South Africa player. Esterhuizen reached 39th in the rankings, the fourth-best by any South African after five matches.