In September 2023, Indian opener Shubman Gill won the Player of the Month award for his outstanding performance at bat. The 24-year-old amassed 480 runs at an incredible average of 80 throughout his incredible month. The Indian opener has advanced over players like Dawid Malan and Mohammed Siraj in the three-man nominee list that the ICC released earlier this week.
Gill was healthy last month, however he is currently sidelined by dengue fever. During his September eight-inning stint, the 24-year-old scored two centuries and three half-centuries. Against Bangladesh in India’s Super Four match, he scored an incredible 121.
Shubman Gill made history by being the first cricket player from India to win the ICC Player of the Award for more than one time. After scoring his maiden double hundred in ODI cricket in January 2023, he was received the same honour from ICC.
In the ODI against Australia, Gill maintained his Midas touch and hit yet another six-figure score. He scored 10, 67*, 58, 19, 121, 27*, 74, and 104 on his eight knocks of the month. Gill’s dengue virus has delayed his ability to use his stellar form from the year to light up the World Cup stage.
In response to receiving the ICC honour, Gill said that it will only push him on to perform better in the upcoming matches for India.
The star player said, he is overjoyed to have been named the September ICC Player of the Month. Being able to represent India internationally and support the team’s goals is a wonderful honour, he added. Shubman Gill further said, this award will further motivate him to continue to seek excellence and make the country proud.
On October 8, when India arrived in Chennai for their opening match against Australia, Gill tested positive for dengue. He hasn’t participated in any of matches for his team so far, and he missed the match against Afghanistan because he was in the hospital.
Shubman returned to the team in Ahmedabad, the city that will host the 2023 World Cup match between India and Pakistan. Both on the day of his arrival, Thursday, and the next day, Saturday, the opening batsman batted in the nets.