Riding on his excellent efficiency in the ODI sequence towards England final month, ace India top-order batter Shubman Gill has been nominated together with Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips for the ICC ‘Player of the Month’ for February.
Gill, who’s at present in Dubai with the Indian workforce for the ongoing Champions Trophy, scored 406 runs, averaging 101.50 at a strike-rate of 94.19 in the 5 ODIs that he had performed in February.
Gill hit a purple patch in the three-match sequence towards England, scoring 87 (in Nagpur), 60 (in Cuttack), and 112 (in Ahmedabad) as he was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’ in the hosts’ 3-0 clear sweep.
Gill then went on to attain an unbeaten 101 towards Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy, adopted by a helpful 46 towards Pakistan as India secured a spot in the semifinals of the ICC’s showpiece occasion.
Australia skipper for the Champions Trophy, Smith shone throughout the Test sequence towards Sri Lanka, scoring 141 and 131 in the two matches his aspect performed there, with a strike-rate of 136.00. He was named ‘Player of the Series’ in recognition of these efforts.
In the one-day sequence, he scored 12 and 29.
Black Caps’ Phillips scored scored 236 in 5 ODIs at a strike-rate of 124.21. His three unbeaten knocks helped New Zealand win the tri-series in Pakistan, additionally involving South Africa. They comprised 106 towards Pakistan in Lahore, 28 towards South Africa at the identical venue, after which 20 towards Pakistan in Karachi in the closing.
He carried that momentum into the Champions Trophy, starting with 61 towards Pakistan in Karachi, after which one other unbeaten innings of 21 towards Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
Published – March 08, 2025 02:09 am IST
