Smriti Mandhana and Jasprit Bumrah Make History with ICC Player of the Month Awards

09
Jul/24

Sportzyverse
Cricket news
07/09/2024
0 Comments

In a landmark achievement for Indian cricket, Smriti Mandhana and Jasprit Bumrah have made history by becoming the first players from the same country to win the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month Awards in the same cycle. Announced on Tuesday, July 9, their exceptional performances on the international stage have earned them this prestigious recognition.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Heroics in T20 World Cup

Jasprit Bumrah’s remarkable contribution to India’s T20 World Cup triumph has earned him the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award. Bumrah played a pivotal role in India’s victorious campaign, particularly with his game-changing spells during critical moments. He finished the tournament with 15 wickets in 8 matches, narrowly behind the top wicket-takers Arshdeep Singh and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Bumrah’s most notable performance came in the final against South Africa in Barbados. As South Africa looked poised to chase down India’s target of 177, Bumrah’s exceptional bowling turned the tide. His crucial wicket of Marco Jansen and tight bowling in the final overs secured India’s victory by seven runs, marking India’s first ICC silverware in 13 years.

“To perform as well as we did at the tournament and lift the trophy at the end is incredibly special, and I will carry those memories with me forever,” Bumrah said in a statement from the ICC. He also expressed gratitude towards his captain Rohit Sharma and fellow competitor Rahmanullah Gurbaz for their exceptional performances.

Smriti Mandhana’s Batting Masterclass

Smriti Mandhana has etched her name in history by winning the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for the first time. Her extraordinary batting display against South Africa at home was instrumental in India’s ODI series win in Bengaluru. Mandhana scored two centuries in the series and nearly achieved a hat-trick, falling just short with a score of 90 in the final match.

Mandhana amassed 343 runs at an astonishing average of 114.33, with a strike rate exceeding 100. Her performances not only earned her the Player of the Series award but also helped her secure the ICC Player of the Month honour, outshining England’s Maia Bouchier and Sri Lanka’s Vishmi Gunaratne.