Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah are in the race for ICC's Player of the Month award in March. (Image: Reuters)

Sanju Samson vs Jasprit Bumrah: India's T20 World Cup heroes in hunt for ICC award

Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah lead ICC Player of the Month nominees after starring in India's T20 World Cup triumph, while South Africa's Connor Esterhuizen impressed with a breakout series in New Zealand.

06 Apr 2026, 12:01 by Amar Sunil Panicker · India Today

In Short

Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah in race for ICC Player of the Month award
Both men played starring roles in India's T20 World Cup win
Samson went on to win Player of the Tournament award

India opener Sanju Samson and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah headline a star-studded shortlist for the ICC Player of the Month award for March, following their decisive roles in India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign.

Joining the Indian duo is South Africa’s emerging batting talent, Connor Esterhuizen, who announced himself in style with a remarkable debut T20I series in New Zealand.

March belonged to Samson. After missing out on the early matches of the World Cup, he arrived just in time to take over the tournament’s biggest moments. His unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a must-win clash in Kolkata kick-started India’s knockout surge.

He then followed it up with two commanding 89s in the semi-final against England in Mumbai and the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Samson’s fearless strokeplay and consistency under pressure not only powered India to another title but also earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

Bumrah, meanwhile, delivered a parallel story of dominance with the ball. Known for thriving in high-pressure situations, he once again proved why he is India’s go-to bowler in crunch games. Across the decisive matches, he claimed seven wickets at an average of 12.00 while maintaining a tidy economy rate of 7.00.

His standout performance came in the final, where he ripped through New Zealand with figures of 4 for 15 in four overs, sealing the match and picking up the Player of the Match honour.

Esterhuizen ensured the spotlight was not limited to the World Cup. The young South African impressed with his aggressive yet composed batting in New Zealand, scoring 200 runs in five matches at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 145.98. His efforts helped South Africa clinch a 3-2 series win and earned him the Player of the Series award.

He also climbed rapidly in the ICC T20I batting rankings, reaching 551 rating points and breaking into the top 40, a significant milestone early in his international career.

Three standout performers, each with a compelling case, now await the final verdict in what promises to be a closely fought race for the monthly honour.

- Ends