Dubai: No Indian men’s cricketer has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month award for February, despite India’s successful defence of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title earlier this month. The absence of Indian players from the shortlist has drawn attention among cricket fans, particularly after the team’s dominant performance in the global tournament.
On March 8, India created history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. The team defeated New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, by a convincing margin of 96 runs in the final played in Ahmedabad.
Despite this achievement, the February Player of the Month nominations in the men’s category went to Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, England’s Will Jacks, and the United States’ Shadley van Schalkwyk.
Several Indian players featured in team of the tournament
Although no Indian player made the Player of the Month shortlist, multiple Indian cricketers were recognised in the ICC’s Team of the Tournament following India’s title-winning campaign.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, opener Sanju Samson, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah were all named in the tournament’s best XI.
These players played crucial roles in India’s successful campaign, contributing with both bat and ball across various matches.
India’s victory in the tournament final was considered one of the most dominant performances in T20 World Cup history, with the team defeating New Zealand by nearly 100 runs in front of a packed crowd.
Despite this strong showing, the ICC Player of the Month nominations were largely influenced by standout individual performances from players representing other teams.
Sahibzada Farhan leads the nominees
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan emerged as the most prolific batter of the tournament and secured a place among the nominees after finishing as the highest run-scorer.
Farhan scored 383 runs during the tournament at a strike rate of 160.25 and an impressive average of 76.60.
His tally also surpassed the previous record held by Virat Kohli for the most runs scored in a single edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup.
Farhan created history by becoming the first player to score two centuries in one edition of the tournament, making him one of the standout performers of the competition.
Will Jacks shines with all-round performance
England’s Will Jacks was another strong contender for the monthly award after playing a crucial role in England’s journey to the semi-finals.
Jacks scored 194 runs during the tournament at a striking rate of 173.21, showcasing his aggressive batting style.
In addition to his batting contributions, he also delivered with the ball, claiming 11 wickets during the competition.
His performances earned him four Player of the Match awards, making him the first player in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup to achieve that feat in a single edition.
His consistent all-round performances played a key role in keeping England competitive throughout the tournament.
Shadley van Schalkwyk impresses for USA
United States bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk also earned a nomination after delivering impressive performances with the ball.
He picked up 13 wickets during the tournament at an economy rate of 7.76.
Two of his most notable performances came against strong cricketing nations India and Pakistan, where he recorded two four-wicket hauls.
His ability to perform against top teams helped the United States remain competitive during the tournament and earned him recognition among the ICC’s nominees.
Arundhati Reddy nominated in women’s category
While no Indian men’s player was shortlisted, India’s Arundhati Reddy received a nomination in the women’s Player of the Month category for February.
Reddy delivered an outstanding performance during India’s 2–1 T20I series victory against Australia.
She finished the series as the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.25.
Her most impactful performance came in the opening match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where she claimed four wickets and was named Player of the Match as India bowled Australia out for 133 in a rain-affected encounter.
She continued to contribute throughout the series, picking up two wickets in the second match and another two in the deciding match in Adelaide, helping India secure a 17-run victory.
Other women’s nominees
Arundhati Reddy will compete for the February award alongside Sri Lanka opener Harshitha Samarawickrama and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana.
Samarawickrama delivered strong performances in Sri Lanka’s 2–1 ODI series victory over the West Indies.
She scored 171 runs across the series at an average of 57, including innings of 66, 35 and 70, which earned her the Player of the Series award.
Meanwhile, Fatima Sana impressed with her all-round performances for Pakistan against South Africa.
She scored 146 runs in T20 matches at a strike rate of 184.81 and also contributed important wickets across both T20 and ODI formats.
Conclusion
The absence of Indian players in the men’s Player of the Month nominations has sparked discussion among fans, especially given India’s historic T20 World Cup title defence. However, strong individual performances from players representing Pakistan, England and the United States ultimately shaped the shortlist.
India still has representation in the women’s category through Arundhati Reddy, whose impressive performances against Australia earned her a place among the nominees.