No Indian cricketer was nominated for Player of the Month for February, despite India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup at home. On 8 March, India became the first team in the history of the tournament to successfully defend their title when they defeated Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad.
Following the win were Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah named in the ICC Team of the Tournament. However, none of them were shortlisted for the February Player of the Month award. Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan, Will Jacks of England and Shadley van Schalkwyk of the USA were nominated instead.
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Farhan finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 383 runs at a strike rate of 160.25 and an average of 76.60, breaking Virat Kohli’s record for most runs in a single edition. He also became the first batsman to score two centuries in a single Men’s T20 World Cup.
Jacks played a key role in England’s run to the semi-finals, scoring 194 runs at a strike rate of 173.21 while taking 11 wickets. His all-round brilliance made him the first player to win four Player of the Match awards in a single edition.
Meanwhile, Van Schalkwyk bowled for the United States and took 13 wickets at an economy of 7.76, including two brilliant four-wicket hauls against India and Pakistan.
ARUNDHATI REDDY NOMINATED FOR FEB
Although no Indian cricketer was nominated for the Player of the Month award, pacer Arundhati Reddy earned a nomination in the women’s category for February. Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana have also been shortlisted.
Arundhati was among India’s top performers in their 2-1 T20I series win over Australia, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.25. She made an immediate impact in the opening match at the SCG, taking four wickets and winning the Player of the Match award as India cruised to a 133-run win over Australia in the rain.
She took two wickets in the second T20I and despite the defeat she remained India’s best bowler. She then claimed two more wickets in the decider in Adelaide as India sealed a 17-run victory.
Sri Lankan opener Harshitha Samarawickrama starred in her side’s 2–1 ODI series win over the West Indies, finishing as the top scorer with 171 runs at an average of 57, including scores of 66, 35 and 70, and was named Player of the Series.
Fatima Sana, on the other hand, impressed as an all-rounder against South Africa, scoring 146 runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 184.81, while also contributing crucial wickets across both formats.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
16 March 2026 16:00 IST
