The accolades keep coming for Sanju Samson as the India opener has won the prestigious men’s ICC Player of the Month award for March 2026.
Samson beat his India teammate Jasprit Bumrah and South African batsman Connor Esterhuizen, who had an impressive debut T20I series against New Zealand.
Bumrah was the Man of the Final at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and was outstanding in the semi-final as well, and Esterhuizen made his first mark on T20Is with terrific displays. However, Samson had a stellar run of three matches, concluding with India lifting the T20 World Cup trophy in Ahmedabad.
After being dropped from the side, Samson was brought back in the lineup to add a right-hander to India’s top order. And then he delivered on the biggest stage(s) of all.
In the Super 8 match against the West Indies, which was a virtual quarterfinal, Samson struck 97* in a high-pressure, tall chase of 196 runs in Kolkata. Then, he followed it up with an 89-run knock of 42 balls in a high-scoring semi-final against England in Mumbai.
To complete a historic three-match sequence, Samson smashed 89 against New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad off 46 balls as India went on to pile up 255 before the bowlers successfully defended it and sealed the trophy.
The most unforgettable phase of my cricketing journey: Sanju Samson
Samson became the third Indian player – after Virat Kohli (2014, 2016) and Jasprit Bumrah (2024) – to bag the Player of the Tournament award at a men’s T20 World Cup.
After being named the men’s ICC Player of the Month for March 2026, Samson reflected on the “most unforgettable” period of his cricket career.
He said, “Winning the ICC Player of the Month award is an incredible feeling, especially as it comes during what has been the most unforgettable phase of my cricketing journey. Playing a part in India’s triumph at the Men’s T20 World Cup was truly a dream realised, and it took some time for the magnitude of that moment to fully sink in.
“This is an exciting era for Indian cricket, with immense talent across the board. I feel grateful for the opportunities I’ve received, and for the trust and support from my team-mates and coaching staff that have allowed me to perform at my best.”
Further, Melie Kerr, the New Zealand women’s team captain, won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for March. In last month’s WODI series against Zimbabwe, Kerr snapped up 16 wickets in only three matches, including a career-best 7/34. Along with this, Kerr scored 140 runs at an average of 46 in that rubber.
In the following T20I series against South Africa, Kerr was phenomenal, scoring 276 runs.
Meanwhile, Samson began his journey with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 with three low scores but rocked back to form with a thunderous century against Delhi Capitals.
Who won ICC Player of the Month for March?
India’s Sanju Samson won the men’s ICC Player Of The Month award, and New Zealand’s Melie Kerr bagged the women’s award for March.
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