Rishabh Pant wins the inaugural ICC Men’s Player of the Month award

After producing sterling performances on the Australian tour, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has now added another feather in his cap. ICC has named Pant as the Men’s Player of the Month for January 2021. The award started this year and Pant is the first cricketer to win it.

Congratulations, @RishabhPant17! pic.twitter.com/5q8YxIS8P4

— ICC (@ICC) February 8, 2021

The 23-year-old wasn’t a part of the India side for the first Test in Australia, but he proved the selectors wrong with his performances in the next Test matches. In Sydney, Pant added 148 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara for the fourth wicket in 45 overs on the final day. Their efforts set up Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin to play out for a draw.

On the final day of the series, Pant produced the best innings of his career to win the match and series for India. His unbeaten knock of 89 saw India claiming a sensational victory.

Shabnim Ismail named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month

South Africa’s pace bowler Shabnim Ismail was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for January 2021 for her performances across three ODIs and two T20Is against Pakistan in the month of January. She took seven wickets in the victorious ODI series and then claimed five wickets in the second T20I against the same opposition.