Harmanpreet Kaur is the First Indian Woman to be named ICC Women's Player of the Month

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 11 October 2022

The winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for September 2022 were revealed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC Men's Player of the Month award went to Pakistan's pening batsman Mohammad Rizwan, and the ICC Women's Player of the Month award went to India's inspirational skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

After a fantastic scoring streak throughout September, Rizwan wins the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for the first time, defeating other nominees Cameron Green (Australia) and Axar Patel (India) to the honour.

Thanks to her pivotal contribution in her team's first ODI series triumph in England since 1999, Harmanpreet Kaur becomes India's first recipient of the ICC Women's Player of the Month award.

During the ODI series, the India captain was at her magnificent best, amassing 221 runs over the course of the three games, keeping a strike rate of 103.47, and only getting removed once. In the opening game of the series at Hove, she demonstrated composure and grace, as her 74 not out allowed her side easily chase down England's 228-run total to win by seven wickets.

While that was spectacular, the second showdown was unquestionably the high point of her month. When she batted first, she took the lead with an exciting 143 not out from 111 balls.

The whole range of Kaur's strokeplay was on display as she smashed 18 fours and four maximums. As England struggled to reach the 334 goal set by the tourists, Kaur and her compatriots made history.

By defeating her countrywoman Smriti Mandhana and Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana in the worldwide voting among media representatives, members of the ICC Hall of Fame, past international players, and fans registered at icc-cricket.com, Kaur earns her first victory.

When Kaur received the ICC Women's Player of the Month honour for September, she said: "Being nominated for the award was fantastic, and winning it is an incredible experience. It is really humbling to win after being nominated alongside Smriti and Nigar.

"I have always taken immense pride in representing my country and achieving the historic ODI series win in England will remain a landmark moment for me in my career. The game of cricket is blessed to have some of the finest athletes on the sporting circuit and to be chosen the ICC Women's Player of the Month amongst them is a special recognition for me as an individual and the captain of the Indian cricket team," she added.