For July, the three nominated cricketers are Shubman Gill from India, Wiaan Mulder from South Africa, and Ben Stokes from England. All three players delivered amazing performances in Test matches during the month.
Shubman Gill: A Historic Month with the Bat
Shubman Gill, who was captaining India for the first time in Tests, had a fantastic month. He led India in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England. In just three Tests played in July, Gill scored 567 runs at an outstanding average of 94.50.
His most memorable performance came in the first Test at Edgbaston, where he scored 269 and 161 in the same match. These two innings added up to 430 runs, making it the second-highest match total in Test cricket history. Only Graham Gooch’s 456 is higher.
In the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Gill scored a vital 103 that helped India draw the game. By the end of the series, Gill had scored a total of 754 runs at an average of 75.40.
By doing this, he set a new record for the most runs by an Indian captain in a five-Test series, going past Sunil Gavaskar’s milestone. Globally, only Sir Donald Bradman has done better. Gill’s calm attitude and big scores under pressure were a huge reason behind India’s success.
Wiaan Mulder: Record-Breaking All-Round Show
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder was in top form during the Test series against Zimbabwe, where he made 531 runs in just two matches with an amazing average of 265.50.
Mulder’s highlight was his unbeaten 367 in the second Test at Bulawayo. This became the highest individual Test score ever by a South African player. Along with his amazing batting, Mulder also did well with the ball. He took 7 wickets in the series at an average of 15.28, including 4 wickets in the first Test.
Although he couldn’t reach Brian Lara’s 400-run world record, Mulder still stood out with his excellent all-round performance. His powerful batting and useful bowling made him the most valuable player in the series.
Ben Stokes: Leading England with Passion
Ben Stokes, the captain of England, continued to show why he is one of the best all-rounders in the world. In the Test series against India, Stokes scored 251 runs at an average of 50.20 and took 12 wickets at an average of 26.33.
He was named Player of the Match in two Tests in a row. At Lord’s, he played a key role in helping England win with both bat and ball. Then, at Old Trafford, Stokes scored a brilliant 141 and also took five wickets. His performance was a big reason behind England's strong fight in the series.
Stokes’ smart bowling, timely wickets, and bold captaincy helped England stay competitive against a tough Indian team.
What is the ICC Player of the Month Award?
The ICC started the Player of the Month award in the year 2021 to honour top-performing cricketers every month. It celebrates the best international cricketers every month based on their performances. A special panel of former players, cricket experts, and journalists, along with global fan votes, decide the winner.
The winner of the ICC’s July 2025 Player of the Month award is expected to be announced shortly. It will go to the player who had the biggest impact on international cricket during the month.
Conclusion: Three Superstars, One Award
The three nominees for this month Shubman Gill, Wiaan Mulder, and Ben Stokes have all delivered brilliant performances.Each of them has shown the true spirit of Test cricket, giving fans around the world unforgettable moments.