India opener Sanju Samson and leading paceman Jasprit Bumrah headline the shortlist for the ICC Player of the Month award for March, following their pivotal roles in India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign.
Joining the Indian duo is South Africa’s budding batting talent, Connor Esterhuizen, who made a statement in style with a remarkable debut T20I series in New Zealand.
March belonged to Samson. After missing the opening matches of the World Cup, he arrived just in time to take over the tournament’s biggest moments. His unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a must-win encounter in Kolkata kick-started India’s knockout surge.
He then followed it up with two superb 89s in the semi-final against England in Mumbai and the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Samson’s fearless strokeplay and consistency under pressure not only propelled India to yet another title but also earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
Bumrah, meanwhile, delivered a parallel story of dominance with the ball. Known to thrive in high-pressure situations, he once again proved why he is India’s go-to bowler in crunch games. He took seven wickets in the deciding matches at an average of 12.00 while maintaining a net economy rate of 7.00.
His standout performance came in the final where he bowled New Zealand with figures of 4 for 15 in four overs, sealing the match and earning man of the match honours.
Esterhuizen ensured that the focus was not limited to the World Cup. The young South African impressed in New Zealand with his aggressive yet composed batting, scoring 200 runs in five matches at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 145.98. His efforts helped South Africa win the series 3-2 and earned him the Player of the Series award.
He also rose rapidly in the ICC T20I batting rankings, achieving 551 rating points and breaking into the top 40, a significant milestone early in his international career.
Three outstanding artists, each with a compelling case, now await the final verdict in what promises to be a hard-fought race for the monthly honor.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
06 Apr 2026 17:31 IST
