India’s dominance on the global stage was reflected in the latest ICC honours shortlist, with Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah earning nominations for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for March 2026.
The two Indian stars were central to the country’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign at home, producing match-winning performances at crucial stages. They are joined on the shortlist by South Africa’s Connor Esterhuizen, but it is the impact of the Indian duo that has stood out over the past month.
Samson’s journey was nothing short of remarkable. After starting the tournament on the sidelines, the wicketkeeper-batter grabbed his opportunity from the Super Eights stage and transformed into India’s most consistent performer. His unbeaten 97 in a must-win clash against the West Indies in Kolkata set the tone, before he followed it up with back-to-back scores of 89 in the semifinal against England in Mumbai and the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
His consistency and ability to deliver under pressure played a pivotal role in India defending their title, with Samson eventually being named Player of the Tournament.
Bumrah, meanwhile, once again proved why he remains India’s most dependable bowler in high-pressure situations. He played a decisive role in both knockout games, controlling the flow of runs and striking at key moments.
In the semifinal against England, where most bowlers struggled, Bumrah returned figures of 1-31, with his disciplined overs at the death making a crucial difference as India defended their total. He then elevated his performance further in the final, picking up four wickets for just 15 runs against New Zealand to seal victory and claim the Player of the Match award.
Across the final three matches of the tournament, Bumrah picked up seven wickets at an impressive average of 12, underlining his value as India’s go-to bowler on the biggest stage.
South Africa’s Connor Esterhuizen also made a strong case for himself with a productive run against New Zealand in T20Is. He amassed 200 runs in five matches, including his maiden fifty and a blistering unbeaten 75 off 33 balls in the series decider, which helped South Africa clinch a 3-2 win. His performances earned him two Player of the Match awards and a significant rise in the ICC rankings.
Kerr, Mooney, Khaka among women’s POTM nominees
While the Indian duo headline the men’s nominations, the women’s shortlist also features standout performers from around the world, including New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr, Australia’s Beth Mooney and South Africa’s Ayabonga Khaka, all of whom enjoyed prolific runs in March.
New Zealand’s Melie Kerr leads the nominations after a sensational all-round display across formats. She picked up 18 wickets in four ODIs, including a record-breaking 7/34 against Zimbabwe, and continued her dominance in T20Is with both bat and ball. Her consistency with the bat was equally remarkable, as she extended a streak of 11 consecutive scores of 30 or more.
Australia’s Beth Mooney also enjoyed a prolific month, anchoring her side’s batting with an unbeaten 106 against India before carrying that form into the T20I series against the West Indies. She finished the month with impactful contributions across formats, including a match-winning 79 in the T20Is.
South Africa’s Ayabonga Khaka impressed with the ball, emerging as a key performer during her side’s tour of New Zealand. She picked up eight wickets in the T20I series, including a standout 4/27, and followed it up with a career-best 6/56 in an ODI.