From Standby to Star! Shafali Verma's World Cup heroics land her ICC Player of the Month nomination

NEW DELHI: India’s batting sensation Shafali Verma has turned a fairytale month into global recognition, earning a spot on the ICC Player of the Month shortlist for November after her match-winning heroics in the Women’s World Cup final. Drafted into the squad as an injury replacement, the 21-year-old unleashed one of the most dominant all-round performances seen in an ICC final, blasting a fiery 87 and grabbing two crucial wickets to propel India to their first-ever Women’s World Cup title in Mumbai.

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Her big-stage brilliance fetched her the Player of the Match award — and now a ticket to the ICC’s elite monthly honours. Shafali’s nomination headlines a diverse three-player shortlist that also includes UAE captain Esha Oza and Thailand’s emerging star Thipatcha Putthawong. Both excelled at the inaugural Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in Bangkok, with Oza scoring 187 runs and taking seven wickets to win Player of the Tournament, while Putthawong finished joint top on the wicket chart with 15 scalps and a title-winning four-wicket burst in the final.




Meanwhile, the men’s shortlist honours three standout all-round performers from the international circuit. South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer led his side to a historic Test series win in India with 17 wickets at a staggering average of 8.94. Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam spun his team to a 2-0 sweep over Ireland, claiming 13 wickets, while Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz starred across formats with impactful runs and game-changing spells.

Fans worldwide now have a say in who wins the honour, with voting open on the ICC website, alongside decisions from the independent ICC Voting Academy. For Shafali and India, the nomination adds another sparkling chapter to a dream World Cup story.


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