India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has etched his name into cricketing history, becoming the first male cricketer to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award four times. Gill’s sensational run in the recently concluded Test series against England earned him the July 2025 honour, placing him ahead of fellow nominees — England skipper Ben Stokes and South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder.
Gill’s previous awards came in January 2023, September 2023, and February 2025. Yet, for the 25-year-old batting sensation, this latest recognition stands apart. Speaking after the announcement, Gill admitted this one means the most, not just for the weight of runs he scored, but because it came during his debut Test series as captain.
“It feels great to be named the ICC Player of the Month for July. This time it holds a lot more significance since it has come for my performances during my first Test series as captain. The double ton in Birmingham is obviously something I will cherish forever and will be one of the highlights of my tour to England,” Shubman Gill said in an ICC media release.
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The England series, Shubman Gill revealed, wasn’t just about personal milestones. It was a leadership test — and one he embraced fully.
“The series was a learning experience for me as a captain, and we had some outstanding performances from both sides. These are memories the players from both teams will carry for a long time. I’d like to thank the jury for selecting me, and my teammates for standing with me through this exciting series. I look forward to continuing this form and bringing more laurels for India.”
He set the stage on fire with his batting heroics in his first series as #TeamIndia‘s Test captain in England! 🔝
Congratulations to Shubman Gill as he becomes the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2025. 👏 👏
He wins this honour for the record 4⃣th time! 🙌@ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/Ju470YqqCG
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 12, 2025
Gill’s numbers in the series were staggering — 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.4, including four centuries. He set the tone with a fluent 147 at Headingley before producing a jaw-dropping 269 and 161 in the same Test at Edgbaston — the second-highest match aggregate in Test history. That performance sealed a 336-run win for India and earned him the Player of the Match award.
After a brief dip at Lord’s, Gill bounced back with a gritty, match-saving 103 at Old Trafford, ensuring India held England to a draw. His consistency and temperament under pressure made him the undisputed Player of the Series, as he led India to a hard-fought 2-2 draw in the five-match battle.
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While Gill dominated the men’s category, England’s Sophia Dunkley was crowned ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July 2025. Dunkley edged past teammate Sophie Ecclestone and Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis for the honour.
Playing eight matches at home against India across formats, Dunkley was England’s standout batter in the T20I series, scoring 151 runs at a brisk strike rate of 134.57, with a highest score of 75 off 53 balls. In ODIs, she amassed 126 runs in three games, highlighted by a superb 92-ball 83 in the series opener at Southampton. While proud of her award, Dunkley was candid about the series results.
“I am delighted to win the ICC Player of the Month award after a really hard-fought series against India. We would have loved to have won the series, but India deserved their victory. It was a great contest and an experience we’ll carry forward into the ICC Women’s World Cup,” she said. With Gill rewriting records and Dunkley showcasing her class, July 2025 will be remembered as a month where both men’s and women’s cricket saw extraordinary performances that transcended mere numbers.
