By Rounak Khare
Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill was awarded the title of ICC Player of The Month for July 2025, in the same category where England Test skipper Ben Stokes and South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, were also nominated. With this win, he has become the first male cricketer to bag the title for a fourth time, a feat that has previously been accomplished by two female cricketers, i.e. Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner and West Indies’ all-rounder Hayley Mathews.
The statement released by ICC (International Cricket Council) mentioned that he has landed this title following his “heroics against England in a thrilling Test series” referring to his performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy which concluded on 4th August 2025, wherein he was awarded the ‘Player of the Series’. This series was also his first as India’s Test captain, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the Test format. The India-England Test series, which is a 5-match Test series, was drawn between the two teams with a score of 2-2, in which Gill scored 754 runs. This is the second highest score achieved by any Test captain in history.
Shubman Gill scored 567 runs at an average of 94.5 across three Tests, also smashing a double century and two hundreds in a total of six outings. In an interview with The Indian Express, he said that his double ton in Birmingham is something he will cherish forever, and is a highlight of the England tour of India, for him. He also acknowledged the “outstanding performances from both sides”, stating that this series was a learning experience for him as a captain. He expressed his gratitude to the jury, while also conveying his thanks to his teammates, whom he accredited for being with him during the entire course of the series. “I look forward to continuing my form in the season ahead and bringing more laurels for the country,” he added.