The International Cricket Council (ICC) nominates 3 cricketers every month based on the performances in that month. The shortlisted cricketers are then voted by the independent ICC voting academy and fans and hence the Player of the month is selected. It is a great representation of honoring the cricketers' rise in different matches. Here is a list of the ICC Player of the month till July 2021.

January- Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has won the inaugural ICC Men's Player of the Month award of 2021. The shortlisted cricketers were Rishabh Pant, Joe Root, and Paul Stirling. His fearless performances in the two innings against Australia are one of the major reasons for winning this title. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman smashed 97 runs in the 3rd test against Australia and 89 runs in the 4th test. His audacious contribution led India to win the series.

In the 3rd test match, his partnership with Pujara was exceptional when they scored 148 runs in 45 overs on the final day. He went back to the pavilion with only 3 runs away from his century. His innings in the 4th test match held at Brisbane is considered as his career's best innings. 89 runs scored by him helped India to win the match and the series.

Read also: Cricket facts: Five batsmen who have hit six fours in an over

February- Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has won the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for February 2021. The Indian off-spinner won the prestigious award for his terrific performances in the 4-match Test series against England. He made 24 wickets and 1 century in his name in February 2021. He also received the man of the series award for picking up 32 wickets in 4 test matches and smashing 186 runs including 1 century. His terrific knock against England helped India in scoring 317 runs and ending the match in a draw. His wholesome number of wickets also includes a fifer as well.

March- Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Among the shortlisted cricketers, Rashid Khan Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sean Williams, Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the ICC men's player of the month award for March 2021. The Indian swing bowler was awarded because of his exceptional performance in the limited over recent series against England. In three ODI matches against England, he scalped 6 wickets with an economy of 4.65. and in 5 T20I matches, he picked up four wickets with an economy of 6.38.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar said to ICC media, "After what seemed like a really long and painful gap, I was delighted to be playing for India again. I used the time away to work on my fitness and skill and I'm happy to be back taking wickets for my country."

April- Babar Azam

The Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the ICC men's player of the month for April 2021. The skipper has shown extraordinary performance consistently in the matches against South Africa. Alongside him, Fakhar Zaman and Kushal Bhurtel were also shortlisted for April. Also, he became the no. 1 ranked batsman by ICC men's ODI Player rankings and broke the reign created by Virat Kohli, and went straight on to the top of the charts. The exciting part about the nominations for April was the selection of Kushal Bhurtel. For the very first time cricketer from Nepal was shortlisted by the ICC for the player of the month.

Read also: Cricket Facts: Teams with Most ODI captains since 2017

May- Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim has been awarded the ICC Player of the month from May 2021. The Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman was the top scorer in a 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka hosted at Bangladesh. In the 3 ODI matches, he smashed a total of 237 runs including 125 runs in the second ODI match. It was the first time ever when Bangladesh won an ODI series against Sri Lanka. He also played 1 test match against Bangladesh as well in the month of May.

June- Devon Conway

Devon Conway has been named the ICC Player of the month for June 2021. The New Zealand opener is the first Kiwi cricketer to win this prestigious award after his unbelievable performance in test cricket against England. His test debut is nothing less than a dream come true as he scored a double ton against England in his first test match. Also, he became the second Kiwi batsman to reach this feat in the debut test match. He also smashed a few half-centuries in his next two matches. His performance was great in the World Test Championship final against India as well. Moreover, he scored 200, 23, 80, 3, 54, and 19 in six consecutive test innings and making a total of 379 runs with an amazing average of 63.16.

Read also: 5 debutants to take a hat-trick in cricket

July- Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan has been named the ICC Player of the month for July 2021. Along with him, Hayden Walsh Jr and Mitchell Marsh were also nominated. Bangladesh all-rounder had an exciting July where he showed his class and caliber exceptionally well. In the ODI series conducted against Zimbabwe, he scored 145 runs and scalped 8 wickets. He followed his trail of wicket-taking in the T20I as well as he picked up three wickets at an economy of 7. In the one-off test match, he also picked up 5 wickets including 4/82 in the first innings. His stellar performance helped Bangladesh to win by 220 runs.

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.

As the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 is getting closer to the grand final, it is now time to look back at the bowlers with standout performances. They have constantly troubled batsmen which led to their team's success.

Who do you think are the ones with most wickets? Take a look at the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah had a remarkable campaign in WTC 2023-25 cycle and has taken the most number of wickets. He took 77 wickets in 15 matches, with an average of 15.09. 

Bumrah recorded five 5-wicket hauls in the cycle and also had his best bowling figure of 6/45 in an innings against England.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Jasprit Bumrah stats in WTC 2023-2025

Pat Cummins | Australia 

The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, has done wonders with the ball, by taking 73 wickets in 17 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for Australia and can also be on top by showcasing his wicket-taking skills in the WTC final against South Africa. 

His best bowling performance in the tournament was a 6-wicket haul for 91 runs.

Pat Cummins stats in WTC 2023-2025

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

Mitchell Starc | Australia 

Yet another Australian legend to feature in this list, who is just behind Cummins by one wicket. This fiery left-arm pacer have always been a key bowling of their team. He took 72 wickets in 18 matches total.

Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure in WTC 2023-25 includes a 6-wicket haul for 48 runs.

Mitchell Starc stats in WTC 2023-2025

Other players with 60+ wickets in WTC 2023-25

Seems like the Aussies and Indians have purely dominated the bowling sides and got most wickets up their sleeves.

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

Here are the other players who crossed the 60 wickets mark and deserves a shoutout in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

After a promising start, Lucknow Super Giants' 2025 IPL campaign started to sink, leaving slim chances for playoff qualification.

Find out what went wrong and everyone's answer to the ultimate question: Can LSG make it to the top 4 in IPL 2025?

LSG in IPL 2025 so far

LSG won 5 matches out of 11 played so far, with a poor net run rate of -0.469 and 10 points. They had a decent start to the tournament with players like Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Ravi Bishnoi and Digvesh Rathi stepping out for the team. 

They struggled to build momentum later on in the tournament, which led them to just 1 victory in their last 5 matches.

Read Also: IPL Facts: Lowest Total Defended in IPL

Performance breakdown:

• Position: 7th position in points table
• Matches played: 11 matches 
• Wins: 5 matches
• Losses: 6 matches
• Points: 10 points
• Net Run Rate (NRR): -0.469, which is the worst among the top seven teams

What exactly went wrong?

The following factors significantly disrupted LSG's gameplay, which resulted in their miserable position for the playoffs:

• Rishabh Pant's poor form: Captain Rishabh Pant is having a disappointing season with the bat, which has practically crushed the team's backbone. He managed to score only 128 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate below 100.
• Inconsistent top-order: The opening pair, despite having good individual performances, haven't consistently fired together.
• Middle-order Reliance: Players like Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad have shown brilliance in some matches, but they weren't enough to carry the team forward after their regular collapse of top order.
• Bowling Inconsistencies: LSG's bowling attack has failed with their execution in matches, and was seen struggling to contain the batters in the death overs.
• Poor Fielding: They dropped catches at crucial times in the game, which cost them heavily. Additionally, the players could have saved more runs with more on-field efforts.

Read Also: Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 so far

Playoff scenario and hopes for a miraculous comeback 

LSG currently has a huge burden of net run rate, which can have a damaging impact even if they win their 3 remaining matches in IPL 2025. They can reach a maximum of 16 points to end the group stage.

In IPL, ending with 16 points would promise a place in the top 4, but the scenario for LSG is different this year. Additionally, they will also need other factors to be in their favour.

Factors and mathematical possibilities

The chances are slim, but here's what they need to consider for qualification:

1. Last 3 hurdles: They have 3 remaining matches to play with RCB (9th May), GT (14th May), and SRH (18th May).
2. Wins required: LSG must win all three matches with huge margins to make their NRR better.
3. Reliance on other teams: They will need to depend on other teams to lose which will be beneficial for them in case of tie-breakers of same points. The team having a better NRR will eventually qualify.
4. Elimination Scenario: LSG will be eliminated from IPL 2025 playoff contention if they lose a single match. They will also lose their chances of being in the top-4 if rain washes away any of their matches.

Fans had high expectations from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain and the most expensive player of this season, Rishabh Pant, in the IPL 2025. Pant, who was bought for Rs 27 crore, was expected to tear apart the opposition bowlers with his aggressive batting, but his performance so far has been extremely disappointing.

Let's take a look at the performance of Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 so far.

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

Worst strike rate by anyone

More than half of the season has passed in IPL 2025 and Rishabh Pant's bat has remained completely silent. He has scored only 128 runs in 10 innings of 11 matches played so far, out of which 63 runs have come in a single innings. His batting average is only 12.80 and strike rate is also limited to 99.22. Which is the worst among players who played at least 10 innings.

Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 (Previous 10 Innings)

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

LSG under Rishabh Pant's captaincy

The performance of Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 as captain has also not been up to expectations. Lucknow Super Giants have won only 5 out of 11 matches, and their net run rate is -0.469. The team is at the seventh position in the IPL 2025 points table with 10 points. The hopes of playoffs seem almost over.

LSG have lost 4 of their last 5 matches, and the one match they won was also by just 2 runs against Rajasthan Royals. In such a situation, the team's confidence seems to be continuously declining. A minimum of 16 points will be required to make it to the playoffs in IPL 2025. However, looking at the current situation, it seems that even 16 points will not be enough for the fourth position, and the net run rate (NRR) can play a decisive role.

Also Read: IPL Table toppers: IPL Playoffs teams from 2008 to 2024

If LSG wants to stay in the playoff race, they will have to win all three of their remaining matches, that too by a big margin, so that their net run rate can improve. Lucknow will play its last three matches against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on May 9, Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 14 and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 18.