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ICC Player of the Month: Shafali Verma named, no Indian men in December nominees

Soumyajit Dutta

Shafali Verma for ICC player of the month nominee [Source: AFP Photos]Shafali Verma for ICC player of the month nominee [Source: AFP Photos]

The International Cricket Council has unveiled the shortlists for the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for December 2025, honouring a host of stellar performances that illuminated the final month of the year.

The nominees feature a plethora of male and female cricketers, including names like Shafali Verma and Mitchell Starc who left an indelible mark on the international stage for that month.

Mitchell Starc, Duffy headline Men’s Player of the Month nominees

West Indies’ Justin Greaves announced himself as a Test all-rounder of immense promise during his team’s tour of New Zealand. He amassed 283 runs at an average of 56.60, headlined by a magnificent, match-saving double century (202*) in the fourth innings of the first Test in Christchurch.

New Zealand’s fast bowler Jacob Duffy enjoyed a career-defining month, spearheading his side’s 2-0 series win over the West Indies. He was the series' dominant force, claiming 23 wickets at a stunning average of 15.43.

Jacob Duffy's consistent menace with the ball not only earned him Player of the Series honours but also propelled him past the legendary Richard Hadlee to become New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker in a calendar year across all formats, with 81 scalps.

Completing the trio is Australia’s veteran paceman Mitchell Starc, whose all-round heroics were central to Australia’s successful Ashes campaign. He claimed 16 wickets and scored 139 runs across three Tests.

His Player of the Match display in the second Test, featuring a fiery 6/75 and a vital 77 runs, epitomised his match-winning ability, while further contributions in Adelaide helped secure the urn for Australia.

Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt for Women’s nominees

South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, continued her phenomenal 2025 with a breathtaking display against Ireland. She smashed centuries in back-to-back ODIs, finishing the 3-0 series with 255 runs at an average of 127.5. She was equally devastating in the T20I leg, launching an unbeaten 115 at a strike rate of 205.35.

India’s Shafali Verma was a whirlwind of power at the top of the order during a 5-0 T20I series whitewash of Sri Lanka. She piled on 241 runs at a staggering average of 80.33 and a strike rate of 181.20, including three successive half-centuries. Her 79 in the fourth T20I was part of a record-breaking opening stand that powered India to their highest-ever T20I total.

Laura Wolvaardt’s South African teammate Sune Luus rounds out the list with outstanding all-round performances. She was pivotal in both whitewash series victories over Ireland, scoring 205 runs at 102.5 in the ODIs, including a century, and adding 118 runs in the T20Is.