The International Cricket Council just announced that India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, and dynamic batter, Smriti Mandhana, have been chosen as ICC Players of the Month in both men's and women's categories, respectively. Having won the men's category, Bumrah was ahead of fellow Indian Rohit Sharma and Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz. His fine show during India's T20 World Cup Triumph in USA and West Indies, where the off-spinner returned figures of 15 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.17 in eight matches, earned him the accolade.
While Mandhana took home the women's award for her brilliant batting display. Of course, the great knocks included a dominating 117 in Bengaluru and a breathtaking 136 in the very next game; these two knocks were instrumental in India`s victory over the Proteas in the ODIs. In the period under review, Mandhana`s aggregate was 343 at an average of 114.33, which reflected her purple patch form that fetched her the Player of the Series award.
This marks the first time that both ICC Player of the Month awards have been claimed by players from the same country since the awards were introduced in 2021. The winners were chosen through a voting process carried out among all the global cricket fans registered on icc-cricket.com, along with a specially formed panel of ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives.
Elated, Bumrah said, "I am really happy to win the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for June. It is special recognition when things have gone really well in the USA and West Indies. Winning the T20 World Cup and doing well with the team has been very pleasing."
I am obviously extremely delighted to have been named ICC Women's Player of the Month for June," Mandhana said. "This is an honor showing that the team did well, and I'm very happy to have done my bit. We had a wonderful series against South Africa, and I hope to maintain my form to also help India win.".
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