New Delhi, August 12: India Test captain and England batter Sophia Dunkley have been named the ICC Men's and Women's Players of the Month for July 2025,
following standout performances in high-profile bilateral series.
The awards, decided through a combination of fan votes and a specialist panel of former players and media representatives, recognise the most impactful performances in international cricket each month.
Gill's Historic Fourth Win
Gill made history by becoming the first male cricketer to win the ICC Player of the Month award four times, adding to his previous titles from January 2023, September 2023, and February 2025.
The 25-year-old dominated during India's Test tour of England, amassing 567 runs at an average of 94.50 across three Tests in July. His remarkable effort in the Birmingham Test - scoring 269 and 161 - yielded an aggregate of 430 runs, the second-highest match total in Test history, and helped India level the series 1-1.
Gill also played a crucial role in the fourth Test in Manchester, striking a composed 103 in the second innings to secure a draw and keep the series alive. In all, Gill scored 754 runs in five Tests against England, averaging 75.40, and slammed four tons.
Reflecting on the award, Gill said: "It feels great to be named ICC Player of the Month for July. This time it holds more significance as it comes during my first Test series as captain. The double ton in Birmingham will be a memory I cherish forever. It was a learning curve for me as captain, and I'm grateful to my teammates and the jury for recognising my efforts. "
Dunkley's All-Round Impact
In the women's game, Sophia Dunkley edged out team-mate Sophie Ecclestone and Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis to claim her first ICC Player of the Month award.
Dunkley was England's most consistent performer during their home series against India, playing all seven matches across ODIs and T20Is. She scored 126 runs in three ODIs - including a stylish 92-ball 83 in Southampton - and added 144 runs at a strike-rate of 134.57 in four T20Is, topping the scoring charts for England in the shorter format.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dunkley said: "I'm delighted to win the ICC Player of the Month award off the back of a really hard-fought series against India. We would have loved to win the series, but we take a lot from it moving towards the ICC Women's World Cup. India deserved their win, and it was a great series to be part of. "
