ICC Player of the month is awarded to that cricketer who executed the best performances in that month. Every month ICC nominates 3 cricketers on the basis of their performances and then the independent ICC voting academy and fans vote and therefore the player of the month gets selected. Before 2021 ends let's have a look at the list of ICC men's Player of the month from January to November.

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1. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh pant kick-started 2021 by winning the ICC Player of the month in January. Rishab Pant, Joe Root, and Paul Stirling were shortlisted for the category. Pant's contribution in the test match against Australia was the potential reason behind his win. In the third test match against Australia Rishabh hit 97 runs and followed it up with 89 runs in the fourth Test match. The Indian wicket-keeper batter's performance helped India to register a victory as well.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin won the ICC men's player of the month award in February. Ashwin was tremendous in the 4-match test series against England. The Indian off-spinner scalped 24 wickets in February 2021. Not only this, but he also smashed a century in that month. He was awarded the man of the series award for his terrific performance.

Read also: Women's ODI World Cup 2022: India's schedule in the World Cup

3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, and Sean Williams were shortlisted for this category in March 2021. In the limited over series against England, Bhubaneswar impressed everyone with his bowling and wicket-taking skills. He started by picking up 6 wickets in the 3 ODI matches and then picked up 4 wickets in the 5 T20I matches.

Read also: South Africa vs India 2021-22: Virat Kohli is all set to play the ODI series in South Africa

4. Babar Azam

Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Kushal Bhurtel were nominated for this prestigious category for the month of April. The Pakistani skipper played marvelously consistently against South Africa and bagged the award in his name. The month proved to be quite exciting for Babar as he surpassed Kohli and became the ICC ranked no. 1 batter in ODI Player rankings.

5. Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim won the ICC Player of the month for May 2021. He batted really well in a 3 match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter hit 237 runs in the series which includes 125 runs in the second ODI match. Surprisingly, it was the first time when Bangladesh registered a victory against Sri Lanka in an ODI series.

Read also: Vijay Hazare Trophy: Most hundreds in a single season

6. Devon Conway

Devon Conway became the ICC Player of the month for June 2021. The Kiwi cricketer is the first-ever cricketer from his country to win this prestigious award. He was brilliant in the test match against England and surprisingly it was only his test debut. Devon smashed a double century in his debut match and also became the second New Zealand batter to reach this landmark in his debut test match. He continued his brilliance in the next two matches as well by smashing half-centuries. In the world test Championship final against India, he contributed well to the team.

7. Shakib Al Hasan

For the month of July, ICC nominated Mitchell Harsh, Shakib Al Hasan, and Hayden Walsh Jr. Shakib Al Hasan won the prestigious award for executive his skills and caliber in the best possible way. He played in the ODI series against Zimbabwe where he scored 145 runs and picked up 8 wickets. He moved on to his next T20I series and picked up 3 wickets at an economy of 7. Also, he played a one-off test match where he scalped 5 wickets including 4/82 in the first innings.

Read also: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22: Pre-quarter finals fixture and schedule

8. Joe Root

England captain Joe Root won the ICC men's player of the year the month for August 2021. The England skipper was phenomenal and consistent in the first 3 test matches against India. These matches were also a part of the ICC World Test Championship series. Joe aggregated more runs in the first 3 test matches than the combination of the next 3 highest run scorers of England. After having a terrific August, he reached the top of MRF Tyres ICC Men's Test Rankings for batters on 1st September as well. He surpassed Virat Kohli, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Kane Williams to reach the no. 1 spot from the no. 5 spot.

9. Sandeep Lamichhane

September witnessed some of the best performances. Nasum Ahmed, Jaskaran Malhotra, and Sandeep Lamichhane were nominated by the ICC because of their groundbreaking performances. Lastly, Sandeep won the title. The Nepal leg spinner had a great September because of his brilliant performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. He played in 6 ODI matches where he picked up 3 wickets at an average of 7.38 and an economy of 3.17. He was phenomenal against Papua New Guinea with match figures of 4/35 and 6/11. Once again he proved himself against Oman with a match figure of 4/18.

Read also: South Africa vs India: Most Runs in Test for India against South Africa

10. Asif Ali

Asif Ali became the ICC Player of the month for October 2021 after his performance in the T20 World Cup 2021. He scored 52 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 273.68. People started recognizing him after his stellar performance of 27* runs in just 12 balls. His innings helped Pakistan to defeat New Zealand. His next performance against Afghanistan made him everyone's favorite when he hit 4 sixes in the 19th over as Pakistan needed 24 runs in the last 2 overs to register a victory. Lastly, he remained unbeaten in all matches it played in T20 World Cup 2021

11. David Warner

ICC Player of the month for November 2021 is the Australian opener, David Warner. He might have had some low moments and instances in the previous months but he reached the peak in the T20 World Cup 2021. Warner was simply tremendous at the marquee event where he aggregated 289 runs in 7 matches at an average of 48.16 and a strike rate of 146.70. He showed a great performance in the final night as well where he smashed a half-century against New Zealand. His stellar performance helped the team to win the Player of the Tournament award at the T20 World Cup 2021 as well. Without a single thought, he was one of the biggest reasons behind Australia winning their maiden T20 World Cup title

The 2025 IPL season has delivered a brutal reality check for Rishabh Pant. After being picked up by LSG for 27 crore, he turned out to be the most expensive flop of this season.

Can a player sustain an international career after such disappointing performance? Is Rishabh Pant's T20I career nearly over after a horrific IPL 2025?

Let's dive into the cold facts.

The disappointing IPL 2025 numbers 

Rishabh Pant was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants as the most expensive player in IPL history for ₹27 crore, which proved to be totally not worth it. He only managed to score 151 runs in 13 matches with an average of 13.73 and a strike rate barely crossing 107.

He is the lowest scorer among all the LSG batters in IPL 2025. Apart from batting performance, he also failed as a captain. The team only won 6 matches out of 13 and lost their playoffs berth under Pant's captaincy.

Pant's questionable descision-making, poor shot selections, and a complete lack of form did not justify the big price tag ahead in the auction.

Read Also: Expensive flops? Rishabh Pant and Venkatesh Iyer's IPL 2025 disappointments

Rishabh Pant stats in IPL 2025

• vs DC: 0 runs (6 balls)
• vs SRH: 15 runs (15 balls)
• vs PBKS: 2 runs (5 balls)
• vs MI: 2 runs (6 balls)
• vs KKR: 0 runs (0 balls)
• vs GT: 21 runs (18 balls)
• vs CSK: 63 runs (49 balls)
• vs RR: 3 runs (9 balls)
• vs DC: 0 runs (0 balls)
• vs MI: 4 runs (2 balls)
• vs PBKS: 18 runs (17 balls)
• vs SRH: 7 runs (6 balls)
• vs GT: 16* runs (6 balls)

The T20I context: India's current pool and future outlook

Rishabh Pant's position is now critically questionable as India's T20 squad selection prioritizes consistency in batting, high strike rates, and adaptable wicket-keeping.

The current pool of contenders are highly competitive and has the potential to outperform Pant.

Read Also: BCCI Central Contract 2025: Talking points from BCCI's contract announcement

The wicket-keeper batsman contenders

• KL Rahul: His current form in IPL 2025 is magnificent and he has consistently performed well for the team. Rahul's ability to anchor and accelerate has again brought him into T20I contention.
• Sanju Samson: Yet another prime contender with high experience and quality performance. He also holds the ability to blend well into the format.
• Dhruv Jurel: A promising young talent who also has the ability to make impactful finish for the team.
• Ishan Kishan: The pocket dynamo who started his IPL 2025 season with a phenomenal century, and gained his spot in BCCI's central contract (2025), is another strong contender.

Where Rishabh Pant fits (or doesn't fit):

Following the poor performance of Rishabh Pant, several known names have speculated about his mental state and his inability to deal pressure. The former Indian cricketer, Kris Srikkanth, also suggested that Pant should consider taking a break from his format.

Read Also: Most Player of the Match awards in T20I cricket history

The modern T20 format demands a lot of things that Pant is completely missing:

• Insufficient strike rate 
• Lack of clarity in shot-making
• Inability to convert build innings 
• Diminished reliability as wicketkeeper-batter
• No longer an unique left-handed power option 
• Difficulty handling run-rate pressure 

Pant is missing the "X-factor" that he once possessed. Therefore, unless his form significantly improves soon and makes a comeback, his T20 career is effectively over.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. And as the IPL 2025 is about to enter the Playoff stage, the level of competition goes significantly up.

The IPL Playoff is an intense phase of the tournament where players need to perform at their best. Thus, there’s constant pressure on batters and bowlers to give their 100 percent, as a tiny mistake can make or break the team’s campaign. Bowlers are under even more pressure as they are the ones who can help teams win the tournament.

Let's take a look at the top 5 bowlers with the most wickets in IPL playoffs history.

Also Read: IPL Table toppers: IPL Playoffs teams from 2008 to 2025

Most Wickets in IPL Playoffs History

5. Harbhajan Singh | 17 Wickets

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has dismissed the batters 17 times in the IPL playoffs at an economy rate of 7.27. During his playing time in the IPL, he has 150 wickets under his name with a stellar economy of 7.08.

The veteran off-spinner has won IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

4. Ravindra Jadeja | 19 Wickets

Off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja has claimed 19 wickets in the IPL playoffs. He traps the bowler with his spin and is also quite handy with the bat. He has a brilliant average of 22.52 in 23 games. The tally includes an economy rate of 7.75.

Jadeja was part of Rajasthan Royal's title-winning side in the inaugural IPL season (2008). He also won the trophy in 2018, 2021, and 2023 with the Chennai Super Kings.

3. Mohit Sharma | 20 Wickets

Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma took 20 wickets in the IPL playoffs. He has been consistently providing breakthroughs when the team needed it most. Having represented CSK and GT in the playoffs, Mohit has taken 20 wickets from 10 games at 15.80. His tally includes an economy rate of 8.77 along with a fifer.

Mohit also played for the Gujarat Titans in the 2023 final.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin | 21 Wickets

With 21 wickets in the IPL playoffs, Ravichandran Ashwin has been a key bowler for Chennai Super Kings, delivering vital spin breakthroughs in pressure moments. Ashwin played for three franchises - CSK, Delhi Capitals, and RR - in the IPL playoffs.

Ashwin snapped up 21 wickets from 24 IPL playoff games at 30.23. Notably, Ashwin also has a maiden over in the playoffs. He won the title with CSK in 2010 and 2011. He bowled a match-winning spell (3/16) in the 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

In IPL 2025, he has claimed seven wickets in the nine games he has featured in.

Also Read: Which team has qualified for IPL playoffs most times?

1. Dwayne Bravo | 28 Wickets

Former CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has taken the most wickets in the IPL playoffs, becoming a standout bowler for Chennai Super Kings. He was known for his death-over skills and crucial wickets in crunch situations. All-rounder Bravo was a mainstay seamer in Chennai Super Kings' pace attack for a decade.

Bravo starred in three of their title-winning campaigns (2011, 2018, and 2021). He also played the final with CSK in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2019. Bravo, who also played for Gujarat Lions, took 28 wickets from 19 playoff matches at 18.21.

Cricket has always been a bridge across cultures, a phenomenon that connects players with fans from all around the world. Situations often force people to migrate from one country to the other. There have been instances when cricketers were born in different nations but ultimately played for a different country.

Let's take a look at the cricket facts of cricketers who didn't play for their country.

Also Read: "Wear whites for Virat": RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute

Cricket Facts | Cricketers who didn't play for their country

5. Glenn Phillips (South Africa-born)

New Zealand cricket all-rounder Glenn Philips moved from East London, South Africa to New Zealand at the age of five. He pursued his education in New Zealand, where he began his cricket journey. Having made his domestic debut with Auckland, he signed with Otago to play alongside his brother, Dale Phillips, in 2022. Interestingly, he made his international debut against South Africa, the country where he was born.

4. Ish Sodhi (India-born)

Inderbir Singh 'Ish' Sodhi was born in Ludhiana, India, on October 31, 1992, and spent his early years in New Zealand. He made his New Zealand debut as a leg-spinner in 2013, and since then, he has been a reliable performer in limited-overs forms, contributing significantly to the country's T20 World Cup campaigns.

3. Devon Conway (South Africa-born)

After playing for Gauteng and the Highveld Lions, Devon Conway moved to New Zealand in 2017 and made an immediate impact. He was the leading run-scorer in both the 2018-19 Plunket Shield (659) and 2018-19 Super Smash (363). Conway became eligible to play for New Zealand in August 2020 and has since become a key player for them across all formats. He averages 36.72 after 27 Tests and has also made 36 ODI and 50 T20I appearances.

2. Marnus Labuschagne (South Africa-born)

Marnus Labuschagne was born in Klerksdorp, in South Africa. His family moved to Australia when he was 10. Labuschagne made his Australia debut in Tests in 2018, after Steve Smith suffered an injury during the Ashes tour. Since then the prolific batter has emulated the batting prowess of his best friend and has not looked back. 

Speaking of his impressive international cricket career for Australia, Marnus Labuschagne has played 57 Tests, scoring 4396 runs with 11 centuries, and played 63 ODIs, scoring 1869 runs with two centuries. He has also played one T20I match.

Also Read: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

1. Ben Stokes (New Zealand-born)

Ben Stokes was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in June 1991. His family moved to Cumbria when Stokes was 12 years old after his father was appointed head coach at Workington Town Rugby League Club.

Stokes has played for England in all three formats. Stokes is regarded as one of England's greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. In domestic cricket, he represents Durham and has played in multiple Twenty20 leagues around the world. He was part of the England team that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup.

The ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 saw some stellar batting performances. Some players have consistently showed how good they are with the bat, and secured their top spot. 

As the WTC 2023-25 is approaching its end, it is now time to look at those huge numbers by some sensational test batters.

Check out these names with most runs in WTC 2023-25.

1. Joe Root (1968 runs) | England 

Joe Root, who is in the top 5 for most runs in test career among some legendary test batters, holds the 1st rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25. He is a central figure for England in tests.

Root's contribution in the WTC 2023-25 cycle has been immense. He scored 1968 runs in 22 matches, with his highest score being 262 against Pakistan, which is the second-highest individual score by an English batter in WTC 2023-25 cycle.

He scored 7 centuries in this cycle, which is unmatched so far.

Read Also: Joe Root to break Sachin Tendulkar's Record of Runs In Test Cricket, predicts Ricky Ponting

Joe Root stats in WTC 2023-2025

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal (1789 runs) | India

Yashasvi Jaiswal made his debut in test cricket during the WTC 2023-25 cycle and his journey was nothing short of sensational. He emerged as the highest run-scorer for India and holds the 2nd rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25.

He scored a total of 1798 runs in 19 matches, with 2 back-to-back double centuries against England, which showcased his ability to dominate in this format.

Read Also: IND vs ENG: Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes fastest Indian to complete 1000 runs in Test cricket

Yashasvi Jaiswal stats in WTC 2023-2025

3. Ben Duckett (1470 runs) | England 

The opening batter for England, Ben Duckett, was phenomenal in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. He consistently provided decent starts to his team with the kind of explosive batting he is known for.

Ben scored 1470 runs in 22 matches and holds the 3rd rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25. He scored 2 centuries during his campaign and proved to be one of the key batters for England.

Read Also: Highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25

Ben Duckett stats in WTC 2023-2025

Other players with 1400+ runs in WTC 2023-25

The England batters have purely dominated the list for most runs in WTC 2023-25, with their 3 batters appearing in top 5. Harry Brook is the third batter from England who is in the top 5 of this list, having 1400+ runs.

Australian batters like Steve Smith and Travis Head also performed brilliantly in this championship, but only Usman Khawaja could make it to the top 5 by having a 1400+ runs in total.

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

The list will look different after the WTC final between Australia and South Africa, but here is what has happened so far.

As IPL 2025 faced disruptions and was suspended on 9th May, 2025, most of the overseas players returned back to their respective home countries.

The tournament is set to resume from 17th May, 2025, and it raises a crucial question about how many overseas players can rejoin their franchises.

Given their international commitments and other issues, check out the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament in IPL 2025 for each team.

IPL 2025 Points Table

Firstly, see where each team stands before the tournament resumes.

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

Overseas players return status for the remainder of IPL 2025