Shubman Gill, the India captain, has been named ICC Player of the Month for his impressive show in the recent India-England Test series. The five-match series away was also his first as Test captain and he led in runs scored. He beat England captain Ben Stokes and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder to get the award.
In three Tests in July, Gill scored 567 runs in six innings, including a double hundred and a century. Last month his average was 94.50. This is Gill’s fourth Player of the Month award from the ICC. He won in February this year and in January and September 2023.
“Being named the ICC Player of the Month for July feels great. It means more this time because it’s for how I played during my first Test series as captain. The double ton in Birmingham is something I will always remember and will be one of the best moments of my time in England,” Gill said after receiving the award.
“The Test series against England was a learning experience for me as captain and both teams played well. I’m sure players from both teams will remember it for a long time. I want to thank the jury for choosing me for this award and my teammates for being with me during this great series. I hope to keep playing well in the season ahead and win more awards for the country,” he added.
Gill finished the India-England series with 754 runs, just 20 runs short of Sunil Gavaskar’s record of most runs scored by a batter in a Test series. He didn’t do well in only one Test, the third India-England Test at Lord’s, London.
Gill is the first male player to win the monthly award four times. Australia’s Ash Gardner and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews are the only female players to have done so. With an average of 74.50 from 10 innings, Gill was also named Player of the Series.
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After this series Shubman Gill is likely to return to T20Is. India’s Test captain is expected to be picked for the upcoming Asia Cup which starts on September 9 in the UAE. According to a report in RevSportz, Gill is not only ready for a T20I comeback but will also be appointed vice-captain for the tournament.
“With Suryakumar Yadav expected to be fit for the tournament which will be played in T20 format this year, Gill will likely replace him. This will be Gill’s first T20I since the T20 World Cup in 2024 and his first as a deputy leader in the Indian dressing room across formats,” the report said.
Gill’s last T20I was after the T20 World Cup in 2024 during the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. This was Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach.
