Sanju Samson named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March

India opener Sanju Samson was on Tuesday named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March , recognising his decisive contributions during India’s triumphant T20 World Cup title defence .He was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performances throughout the event.

Samson, who was not part of India’s playing XI in the initial phase of the tournament, was later included for the crucial Super 8 stage and immediately made a strong impact at the top of the order.

He began his run with a steady 24 against Zimbabwe before producing an unbeaten 97 against West Indies , narrowly missing out on a century but anchoring India’s innings in a high-pressure encounter. He followed it up with a blistering 89 against England at the Wankhede Stadium, helping India post a commanding 253/7 in a match they eventually won by seven runs. Samson then struck another fluent 89 in Ahmedabad , powering India to a dominant 96-run victory.

Across three key T20Is in March, he amassed 275 runs at an average of 137.50 and a strike rate of 199.27 , underlining his explosive form during the decisive phase of the campaign. This is the first time Samson has won the ICC monthly honour.

Reacting to the recognition, Samson said the award came during the most memorable phase of his career and credited the team management and support staff for their trust. “It is an incredible feeling, especially during what has been the most unforgettable phase of my cricketing journey,” he said, adding that being part of India’s World Cup triumph was a dream realised.

In the women’s category, New Zealand captain Melie Kerr was named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for March after a dominant all-round performance against Zimbabwe and South Africa. She took 16 wickets in three ODIs , including a career-best 7/34, and also scored 140 runs, finishing as one of the top contributors with the bat as well.

The ICC award continues a trend of global performers being recognised over recent months, with players from multiple countries winning the monthly honour in succession. In February, the award was won by Australia’s Travis Head and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, while in January it went to India’s Jasprit Bumrah. The ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards were first introduced in January 2021 to recognise outstanding international performances across formats.