Following India’s triumphant Asia Cup campaign, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominees for the Player of the Month award for September, featuring two of India’s T20I stars. The shortlist includes opener Abhishek Sharma, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and Zimbabwean batter Brian Bennett.
India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma has continued his remarkable breakthrough season, following a record-smashing performance at the recently concluded Asia Cup. Over seven matches, Abhishek amassed 314 runs at an average of 44.86, maintaining a staggering strike rate of 200, making him the tournament’s top scorer during India’s unbeaten march to the title.
The 25-year-old also set a new benchmark in men’s T20I cricket, achieving the highest batting rating in history with 931 points, cementing his reputation as one of the brightest talents in the international circuit.
While Abhishek dominated with the bat, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav proved to be India’s lethal force with the ball. The 30-year-old finished as the leading wicket-taker of the Asia Cup, claiming 17 scalps at an economy rate of 6.27. Kuldeep began the tournament with stunning figures of 4/7 against the UAE and capped off his campaign with 4/30 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett rounds out the three-player shortlist, having maintained exceptional form in September. Bennett scored 497 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 55.22, striking at 165.66, reinforcing his position as a key figure in Zimbabwe’s top order.
