Patiala, 13 August (Sports Desk)
India’s Shubman Gill has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2025 for his exceptional performances in the Test series against England, outshining England’s Ben Stokes and South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder.
The 25-year-old amassed 567 runs at an impressive average of 94.50 across three Tests, including a double century and two centuries in six innings. Leading India for the first time as Test captain, Gill expressed pride in the recognition:
“It’s an honor to be named the ICC Player of the Month for July, especially as it reflects my contributions in my debut series as captain. The double ton in Birmingham will always be a cherished memory. The series was a learning curve, with remarkable performances from both teams. I thank the jury and my teammates for their support, and I’m eager to continue delivering for India.”
This marks Gill’s fourth ICC Player of the Month award, following wins in January and September 2023, and February 2025, making him the first male player to achieve this feat four times, alongside female cricketers Ash Gardner and Hayley Matthews.
Gill’s standout performance came in India’s historic win at Edgbaston, where he scored a monumental 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second, totaling 430 runs in the match—the second-highest aggregate in Test history, behind only Graham Gooch’s 456. His Edgbaston masterclass set up a 336-run victory and broke several records:
watch…..Shubman Gill’s Epic 269 and India’s Bowling Blitz Dominate Day 2 of 2nd Test at Edgbaston
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First Indian captain to score a Test double century in England.
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Second Indian captain to score a Test double hundred overseas, after Virat Kohli in 2016.
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Surpassed Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 (1979) for the highest Test score by an Indian in England.
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Eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 to set the record for the highest overseas score by an Indian outside Asia.
Despite modest scores of 16 and 6 at Lord’s, Gill bounced back at Old Trafford with a composed 103 in the second innings, rescuing India from a precarious 0/2 while chasing 311 to avoid an innings defeat. His effort secured a crucial draw, contributing to India’s 2-2 series result.
Gill’s leadership and batting prowess shone throughout the five-Test series, where he scored 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40, earning him the Player of the Series award. His 754 runs rank as the second-highest in a World Test Championship (WTC) series, propelling India to third in the 2025-27 WTC standings. Gill’s ability to convert starts into match-defining knocks was pivotal in India’s resilient fightbacks, ensuring a hard-fought series draw.
