India’s explosive batting all-rounder Shafali Verma has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September 2026, capping a remarkable stretch in which her runs and wickets powered India to both the Asia Cup title and Asian Games gold. The 22-year-old beat teammate Shree Charani and Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu to claim the monthly honour, her second ICC Player of the Month award after first winning it in November 2025 during India’s home ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph under skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
Shafali’s September was defined by relentless impact at the top of the order and a growing influence with the ball. Across seven T20Is, she amassed 360 runs at a stunning average of 72 and a strike rate of 184.61, while her right-arm off-spin returned six wickets at 13 apiece and an economy rate of 4.33. Few players shaped two major tournament victories so completely, and the award recognises an all-round month rather than a single standout innings.
“It is an incredible honour to win the ICC Player of the Month award again,” Shafali said. “It was immensely satisfying to play my part in our victories at the Asia Cup and the Asian Games, and winning this award makes those triumphs even more special.”
The Asia Cup in the UAE was the first stage of her surge. Shafali finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 236 runs in five innings, including a composed 64 in the semi-final against Bangladesh and a decisive 68 in the final against Sri Lanka. India’s victory gave them a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, including the 4th T20 Asia Cup title after 2012, 2016, and 2022, with Shafali’s aggressive starts alongside Smriti Mandhana repeatedly allowing the middle order to build on strong platforms.
She carried that momentum to the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, where India claimed gold. Shafali struck 188 runs in three innings, beginning with an unbeaten 40 against Japan before producing the defining knock of her month: a maiden T20I century, made from just 49 balls in the semi-final against Bangladesh. Her 48 in the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka then helped India complete a massive 147-run victory.
Her bowling proved equally valuable when the stakes rose. After taking two wickets in the Asia Cup, Shafali claimed four more at the Asian Games, including two in the final against Sri Lanka. That ability to contribute in both disciplines has become central to India’s white-ball balance, turning a feared opener into a genuine all-round match-winner.
The recognition also coincides with Shafali climbing into the top four of the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings, further evidence that her recent form has translated into global standing. At 22, she already combines World Cup-winning experience with the kind of tournament temperament that India will want at the heart of their next white-ball cycle.
The timing is especially significant. India are preparing for their historic maiden bilateral white-ball series against Zimbabwe, led by Josephine Nkomo, featuring three T20Is followed by three ODIs from 16 to 28 October 2026. It will also be Smriti Mandhana’s first assignment as India’s full-time captain in all formats, after Harmanpreet Kaur announced her decision to step down from the role across formats on 6 October 2026.
For Shafali, the immediate focus is maintaining momentum, but a larger prize is already in view. India will host the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy from 14 to 28 February 2027, a first of it’s kind T20I-format tournament that offers the chance for another global triumph on home soil.
“I am excited about the months ahead and determined to keep performing at my best, with the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in February next year another tournament to look forward to,” she said. “The memory of winning the World Cup is still so fresh and special, and I can’t wait to be back on the field for an ICC tournament on home soil. It promises to be an unforgettable experience!” She was named the Player of the Match for her all-round exploits in the ODI World Cup final against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium.
From Asia Cup dominance to Asian Games gold, Shafali Verma’s September was a statement of both talent and temperament. Her second ICC Women’s Player of the Month award confirms that India’s most fearless batter is now also on the path to be one of the most complete all-round forces in the women’s game.
(Quotes sourced from the ICC Press Release)
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