The International Cricket Council has announced the nominees for the ICC Player of the Month award for March 2026. Three players have been shortlisted for the honor based on their strong performances during the month.
The nominees include Indian stars Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson, along with South African wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen. All three players delivered impressive performances in international matches during March.
ICC Player of the Month nominees for March 2026
The shortlist features two players from India and one from South Africa.
Nominees list
| Player | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | India | Fast bowler |
| Sanju Samson | India | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Connor Esterhuizen | South Africa | Wicketkeeper-batter |
The winner will be decided based on voting from fans and a panel of cricket experts.
Sanju Samson’s impressive March in the T20 World Cup
Sanju Samson was one of the standout players during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter played an important role in India’s successful campaign in the tournament.
Interestingly, Samson was not India’s first-choice opener at the start of the event. The team initially preferred Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the opening role.
However, a tactical change by the team management gave Samson an opportunity in the playing XI. Once he got the chance, he made a strong impact with several match-winning performances.
Key performances from Samson
Samson produced some memorable innings during the tournament.
One of his most notable knocks was an unbeaten 97 in a crucial match against the West Indies. He followed that with two important innings of 89 runs each against England and New Zealand.
These performances showed his ability to deliver under pressure in big matches.
Sanju Samson’s statistics for March 2026
Samson finished the month with impressive numbers across his matches.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs | 275 |
| Average | 137.50 |
| Strike rate | 199.27 |
These outstanding figures played a major role in his nomination for the ICC Player of the Month award.
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Jasprit Bumrah’s strong impact
Jasprit Bumrah also earned a place on the shortlist thanks to his impressive performances with the ball.
The Indian fast bowler continued to be a key player for the team, delivering important breakthroughs and maintaining control in crucial moments of matches.
His consistent bowling during the month helped strengthen India’s overall performance.
Connor Esterhuizen’s nomination
South Africa’s Connor Esterhuizen is the third nominee for the award.
The wicketkeeper-batter impressed with his performances and contributed significantly to his team’s success during the month.
His consistent batting and contributions behind the stumps helped him earn recognition among the top performers of March.
The ICC Player of the Month award is decided through a combination of fan voting and votes from a panel of cricket experts.
Fans can cast their votes online, and the ICC will soon announce the winner.
With strong performances from all three nominees, the race for the March 2026 award is expected to be closely contested.
