India’s main fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, played a crucial role in India’s impressive bowling performances at the start of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
On a recent Tuesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the fresh lineup of global cricket stars who are vying for the prestigious ICC ‘Player of the Month’ awards. This announcement comes after a thrilling and action-packed month of cricket in October, especially during the group stage matches of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The shortlist for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month showcases three standout performers who left their mark during the group stage fixtures of the Cricket World Cup in October. These players have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed significantly to their respective teams.
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah performed exceptionally well in the early matches of the CWC23. He took crucial wickets that helped India maintain an unbeaten record at the beginning of the tournament.
South African batsman Quinton de Kock scored three centuries at the top of the batting order, contributing significantly to the strong start of the Proteas in the tournament.
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, making his debut in the World Cup, showcased his talent by scoring classy centuries against England and Australia.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month:
Jasprit Bumrah
India’s main fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, played a crucial role in India’s impressive bowling performances at the start of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He began his campaign by taking two wickets for 35 runs against Australia in Chennai. Then, in the match against Afghanistan in Delhi, he was exceptional, grabbing four wickets for only 39 runs.
Bumrah’s outstanding form continued when he faced Pakistan in Ahmedabad. He bowled brilliantly and took two wickets for just 19 runs, earning him the title of Player of the Match. He even managed to dismiss the highly regarded batsman, Mohammad Rizwan, with a clever slower ball.
In total, Bumrah took 14 wickets in October, averaging just 15.07 runs per wicket, and he maintained an impressive economy rate of 3.91. His performances were outstanding.
Quinton de Kock
The South African opener, Quinton de Kock, has already shared his plans to retire from One Day International (ODI) cricket after the Cricket World Cup. However, his impact in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 was as significant as ever. In October, he made back-to-back centuries in matches against Sri Lanka and Australia, making a strong start in the tournament.
Although he didn’t perform well in the matches against the Netherlands and England that followed, he bounced back with an impressive score of 174 runs against Bangladesh, which helped him regain his form.
De Kock’s nomination for the Player of the Month award is notable because it’s his first since June 2021. He scored a total of 431 runs in October, with an impressive average of 71.83 runs per match. His strong performance makes him a strong contender for the award.
Rachin Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra, a 23-year-old cricketer from New Zealand, hadn’t played many One Day Internationals (ODIs) before the Cricket World Cup began, only 12 to be exact. However, he surprised many with a fantastic start in CWC23. In his first match, he scored 123 runs in 96 balls, helping New Zealand win by nine wickets against England, the defending champions.
Ravindra continued to impress with half-centuries in matches against the Netherlands (51 runs) and India (75 runs). He then hit a brilliant 116 against Australia, capping off a memorable month. This outstanding performance led to his first nomination for the Player of the Month award. In total, he scored 406 runs in October with an impressive average of 81.20 runs per match.
For the ICC Women’s Player of the Month:
- Nahida Akter (Bangladesh): Akter, a left-arm spinner, played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s T20I series against Pakistan. She took a total of three wickets and helped her team secure a series victory.
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand): Kerr was a key contributor in both ODI and T20I matches against South Africa. She scored runs consistently and played an important role for her team.
- Hayley Matthews (West Indies): Matthews was outstanding in white-ball cricket during a competitive series in Australia, earning her nomination for her exceptional performances.