The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the Player of the Month award for September 2025, and Indian cricket fans have plenty to cheer about. Three Indian stars – Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Smriti Mandhana – have been shortlisted for their outstanding performances, making it a special month for Indian cricket.
While Abhishek and Kuldeep dominated in the Asia Cup 2025, leading India to a historic title win, Mandhana continued her brilliance in women’s ODIs against Australia. They will compete with Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett, Pakistan’s Sidra Amin, and South Africa’s Tazmin Brits for the prestigious honour.
Abhishek Sharma: The Run Machine of Asia Cup
The young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma was the standout batter of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. Scoring 314 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 200, he smashed three half-centuries and played with fearless intent at the top of the order. His fireworks not only won India crucial matches against Pakistan but also earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
Adding to the achievement, the 25-year-old reached a record milestone by securing 931 rating points – the highest-ever batting rating in men’s T20I history.
Kuldeep Yadav: The Spin Wizard
If Abhishek shone with the bat, Kuldeep Yadav lit up the Asia Cup with his bowling. The left-arm wrist spinner was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, claiming 17 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.27.
He began with magical figures of 4/7 against UAE and finished the campaign with a brilliant 4/30 in the final against Pakistan, proving his big-match temperament. Kuldeep’s consistency throughout the event underlined his importance as India’s strike spinner in white-ball cricket.
Smriti Mandhana: Leading from the Front
In women’s cricket, India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana produced a stellar batting display against world champions Australia. Across four ODIs, she amassed 308 runs at an average of 77 with a strike rate of 135.68.
Her innings of 117 and 125 were the highlights, keeping India alive in the series despite losing narrowly 1-2. Mandhana’s form also brought her closer to world records for most ODI centuries in a single calendar year, further solidifying her place among the best batters in women’s cricket today.
Apart from the Indian trio, Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett also impressed with the bat. He scored 497 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 55.22 and a strike rate of 165.66, including knocks of 72, 65, and 111 in the T20 World Cup Africa Final, helping his team qualify for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
In the women’s section, Pakistan’s Sidra Amin and South Africa’s Tazmin Brits are in the race. Brits has been in sensational form with four centuries in her last five ODIs, while Amin scored two centuries and two fifties in her recent outings.
With three Indian stars nominated for September’s ICC Player of the Month, the spotlight is firmly on Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Smriti Mandhana. Their performances not only highlighted India’s dominance in recent months but also gave fans plenty of reasons to celebrate. The ICC will soon announce the winners, and Indian fans will be hoping to see at least one of their heroes lift the award.
