Suryakumar Yadav to fight with Joe Root & Daryl Mitchell for THIS ICC award
(Courtesy : BCCI)
Suryakumar Yadav has been in a terrific form with the bat in the T20I cricket since the start of 2026.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the Men’s Player of the Month award to recognise and celebrate outstanding individual performances across all formats of international cricket during a specific month.
Launched to highlight consistent excellence with bat, ball, or in the field, the award features a shortlist of three nominees selected, by an expert panel, which is followed by public voting to determine the winner.
For January 2026, the ICC announced a star-studded shortlist for the Men’s Player of the Month: New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, England’s Joe Root, and India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. These players stood out during a busy period featuring bilateral series and high-stakes encounters.
Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav among nominees for ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for January 2026
Daryl Mitchell delivered a dominant performance in the ODI series against India, guiding his team to a historic 2-1 away victory. The all-rounder smashed back-to-back centuries in the second and third ODIs, amassing 352 runs at an extraordinary average of 176.
This propelled him to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings. He also contributed 125 runs at a blistering strike rate of 186.56 in the subsequent five-match T20I series against India.
Joe Root played a pivotal role in his team’s 2-1 ODI series comeback win over Sri Lanka. The English great made scores of 61, 75, and an unbeaten 111, while also claiming two wickets, and earning the Player of the Series honours. His form extended from the Ashes 2025-26, where he scored a classy 160 in the Sydney Test.
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, earned his nomination through a remarkable turnaround in form during the five-match T20I home series against New Zealand, which India won 4-1.
After a prolonged lean patch without a fifty in 25 prior innings, Yadav exploded with three half-centuries, scoring 242 runs at a strike rate of 197. This resurgence came at an ideal time for him and his team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, restoring his reputation as one of the game’s most destructive batters in the shortest format.
Who are the nominees for ICC Men’s Player of the Month (January 2026)?
Daryl Mitchell, Joe Root, and Suryakumar Yadav have been nominated for their exceptional performances.
How is the winner of ICC Player of the Month decided?
An expert panel selects nominees, and the final winner is determined through a combination of panel evaluation and public voting.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.