Shafali Verma wins ‘ICC Women’s Player of the Month’ for second time following unimaginable Asia Cup, Asian Games outings

Dubai [UAE], October 13 (ANI): Indian opener Shafali Verma was named the ‘ICC Women’s Player of the Month’ winner for September 2026, following unimaginable title-winning outings within the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games with the bat and clutch contributions in high-stakes matches. 

It is the second time Shafali has received the month-to-month award, with the 22-year-old first tasting success in November final 12 months when she helped India declare the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on residence soil, as per the ICC. 

“It is an incredible honour to win the ICC Player of the Month award again,’ Shafali said, as quoted by the ICC. 

‘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.’

Shafali said she was already looking forward to India’s upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe, and she had one eye on next year’s ICC Champions Trophy event.

“I’m excited concerning the months forward and decided to maintain acting at my greatest, with the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in February subsequent 12 months one other match to sit up for,’ she added.

‘The reminiscence of successful the World Cup remains to be so recent and particular, and I can not wait to be again on the sector for an ICC match on residence soil. It guarantees to be an unforgettable expertise!,’ she added. 

The explosive opener’s crowning second comes on the again of India’s win eventually month’s Asia Cup in addition to the gold medal triumph on the lately concluded Asian Games in Nagoya.

Shafali scored 360 runs in seven T20Is in September, averaging a sensational 72 and boasting a strike fee of 184.61, together with a century and two fifties. The right-arm off-spinner additionally contributed six wickets at a mean of 13 and an financial system fee of 4.33.

The 22-year-old was the main run-scorer on the Asia Cup in UAE with 236 the runs in 5 innings, together with a knock of 64 within the semi-final in opposition to Bangladesh and 68 within the closing in opposition to Sri Lanka, as India secured a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title. 

She continued her type on the Asian Games in Japan, scoring 188 runs in three innings. That included an unbeaten 40 in opposition to Japan earlier than she produced a maiden T20I century in opposition to Bangladesh, smashing 100 off 49 balls within the semi-final.

The opener climbed into the highest 4 on the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings as nicely.

In the gold-medal match in opposition to Sri Lanka, Shafali added 48 runs with the bat, guiding India of their huge 147-run victory.

With the ball, Verma was equally impactful as she took two wickets within the Asia Cup and 4 extra within the Asian Games, together with a brace of wickets within the all-important gold-medal conflict in opposition to Sri Lanka.

Verma, along with her outings within the Asian Games, additionally grew to become the lady with essentially the most T20I runs in a calendar 12 months, with 863 runs in 24 matches and innings at a mean of 39.22, with a strike fee of over 162, together with a century and 7 fifties. (ANI)