ICC Names Jansen and Sharma Players of the Month
South Africa's Marco Jansen and India's Deepti Sharma earned ICC Player of the Month honors for October 2026.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Tennis
The ICC named Marco Jansen its Men's Player of the Month and Deepti Sharma its Women's Player of the Month for October 2026. Jansen scored 198 runs and took 13 wickets during the month, while Sharma's performances spanned both ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Why it matters
The awards recognize standout individual performances across all formats of international cricket, as voted on by global fans and a specialist panel. Jansen's form also carries rankings weight, as he reached number one in the ICC Test Bowling and All-rounder Rankings.
Jansen's October totals were 198 runs and 13 wickets, including 85 runs and a five-wicket haul in Gqeberha. Sharma's ODI series against Zimbabwe ended in a 3-0 India sweep, with her 106 not out and 3.42 economy rate central to the win.
The players
Marco Jansen
South African all-rounder who was named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for October 2026 after reaching number one in the ICC Test Bowling and All-rounder Rankings.
Deepti Sharma
Indian all-rounder who was named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October 2026, having earlier won the same award in December 2023.
International Cricket Council (ICC)
The global governing body for cricket, which runs the monthly Player of the Month awards and the ICC World Test Championship.
The details
Votes were cast by registered global fans at icc-cricket.com and a panel of former international players and media representatives. Jansen was also the first South African bowler ranked number one since Kagiso Rabada in 2024, and the first South African all-rounder at the top since Vernon Philander in August 2014.
Timeline
October 2026: Performances recognized in the monthly award cycle.
December 2023: Deepti Sharma received her first ICC Women's Player of the Month award.
August 2014: Vernon Philander last topped the all-rounders' ranking for South Africa.
2024: Kagiso Rabada last held the number one bowling ranking for South Africa.
Next year: South Africa aims to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final.
Roadmap
Jansen's rise to the top of the rankings continues a South African tradition of elite all-rounders, following Vernon Philander's 2014 peak. His ranking gains place him in the company of recent number one bowler Kagiso Rabada, underlining the country's depth in Test cricket.
The awards give cricket fans a clear benchmark for individual form across Test, ODI and T20I play. Jansen's number one ranking also shifts who sits at the top of the bowling and all-rounder tables that fantasy and roster-building followers track.
The takeaway
Monthly awards like these reward consistency across formats rather than a single headline match. Following the rankings and monthly awards gives readers a clear view of which players are performing at the highest level.
What happens next
South Africa aims to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final next year.
Further reading
For more on how athletes are recognized across different sports, explore our Tennis coverage.
More information
Fans can register and vote through the ICC Player of the Month voting registration page.
