On Monday, April 6, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominees for the ICC Player of the Month award for March 2026, and two superstars from the India national cricket team – Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson – feature in the list.
Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Connor Esterhuizen has joined Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson in the battle for the ICC Player of the Month nominees for March 2026.
Sanju Samson shines in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson performed brilliantly in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and played a key role in India’s victory in the World Cup.
He was not India’s first choice for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as India preferred Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan as opening batsmen. However, after a strategic change made by the coaching staff, Sanju Samson got a place in the playing eleven.
Then, Sanju Samson made the most of the opportunities he got and played his best cricket in the most important matches for India and ultimately brought them glory.
He scored 97* in a crucial match against the West Indies National Cricket Team and followed it up with an impressive 89 in the finals against the England National Cricket Team and New Zealand National Cricket Team.
Overall, in March 2026, the star wicketkeeper-batsman scored 275 runs at an amazing average of 137.50 and a brilliant strike rate of 199.27.
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Starring Jasprit Bumrah and Connor Esterhuizen in March 2026
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, considered the best bowler in the world, looked as effective as ever in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
He took two wickets in the Super 8 match against the West Indies national cricket team and then stopped the England national cricket team from chasing the target in the semi-finals.
Jasprit Bumrah continued his bowling masterclass in the summit clash and returned with bowling figures of 4/15.
Talking about South Africa national cricket team wicketkeeper-batsman Connor Esterhuizen, he had an impressive start in the T20I series against New Zealand. He scored 200 runs in five matches at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of 145.98.
ICC Women’s Player of the Month nominees for March 2026
On the women’s side, New Zealand women’s national cricket team star Mellie Kerr, Australia women’s national cricket team star Beth Mooney and South Africa women’s national cricket team bowler Ayabonga Khaka have been nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for March 2026.
Mellie Kerr put in some sensational performances in the matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa in March. He took 18 wickets in ODIs in March and took six wickets in T20Is. With the bat, Kerr scored 276 runs in T20Is and 176 runs in ODIs.
Meanwhile, Beth Mooney started March with a brilliant innings of 106 off 84 balls against India and then in the T20 series against West Indies, she scored 107 runs in three matches at an average of 35.66 and a strike rate of 128.91 and ended the month with an innings of 65 against the West Indies National Cricket Team in an ODI.
Talking about Ayabonga Khaka, she was the highest wicket taker in the T20 series between South Africa and New Zealand. He took eight wickets in the series, and in his only ODI in March, he recorded figures of 6/56 in Christchurch.