Indian Captain Shubman Gill was named among the three nominees for ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for July, after a series of commanding performances with a bat during the recently closed Anderson-Tendulkar trophy against England.
The 25-year-old, the head of India for the first time in the test series, enjoyed the month to remember when he led a young and relatively inexperienced Indian party to a commendable 2-2 draw from English soil. Gill, who fired on No. 4 through a series of five matches, created a number of unforgettable shifts that not only emphasized his growing figure in the world cricket, but also saw him breaking several long -term records.
Only in three July tests, Gill accumulated 567 runs in extraordinary average 94.50. His standout performance came during the Indian historical victory in Edgbaston, where he scored a beautiful 269 in the first shifts and followed by Fluent 161 in the second. The combined sum of 430 runs in this test is the second highest match of the dough in format history, for 456 Graham Gooch against India in 1990.
Gill’s purple spot continued Old Trafford in the penultimate test, where he hit the defiant second shift (103) under pressure to help India escape the draw. This knocking proved to be essential to keep the series alive in the final oval test that India won by six runs per square series.
During five tests, Gill ended 754 runs on average 75.40 – the highest Indian captain in a series of five tests, which during a tour of West India in 1971 broke the record Sunil Gavascar. In the wider context of the test history, only the legendary Sir Donald Bradman (810 running in Ashes 1936-37) scored other runs such as the captain in the test series of five matches.
In his announcement, ICC welcomed Gill’s consistency and calm on key position 4, in particular, emphasizing how smoothly he entered the role he once held by Virt Kohli. “His consistency on No. 4, the continuation of the baton at all times of the great Virt Kohli, provided stability and taste to the same extent and in combination with his extraordinary captain in his debut series,” ICC said.
Gill’s ability to score great under pressure, especially when he defends the goals around him, played a crucial role in the Indian ability to mount Comebacks during the hard combat series. His selection of shot, temperament and awareness of matches was praised by former crickets and scientists, and many described his performances as the moment of the upcoming age in the test cricket.
South African Wiaan Mulder is the second nominated on the list – and correctly after a month that saw him his name etching into books. Mulder, who led the Proteas in a series of two tests against Zimbabwe, created a monumental undefeated 367 in the second test in Bulawayo – the highest individual score in South African test history. He gathered stunning 531 runs over two matches on average 265.50. With the ball, Mulder also made an impact and picked up seven goals for just over 15 per piece, including a square raid in the series.
England Captain Ben Stokes completes nominations after a typical versatile expression in tests against India. Talismanic All-Rounder scored 251 runs to 50.20 and raised 12 goals to 26.33 in July, and at the same time played a key leading role in a closely attacked series. Stokes was appointed a match player in the following tests-only in Lord’s, where he released a versatile performance of the winning match and again to Old Trafford, where his counterattack 141 and five goals showed his ability to turn an influx in high-pressure situations.
ICC appreciated Stokes’ ability to influence matters with the bat and the ball and said: “His leadership proved to be essential in maintaining the intensity and belief in England in a closely attacked series. The ball in his hand bowed to long spells, often breaking key partnership and changing the influx of England.”
The winner of the ICC Player of the Month Award for July will be determined through a combination of global voices of fans and the independent voting Academy of ICC, which includes former players, journalists and transmitters from all over cricket world.
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Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
August 6, 2025
Tune
