Indian cricket has a new benchmark-setter. On August 12, 2025, Shubman Gill, India’s young Test captain was crowned ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2025, becoming the first male cricketer to claim this award four times.
Shubman Gill, who had previously won the honor in January 2023, September 2023, and February 2025, edged past two in-form rivals: England’s Ben Stokes and South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder. His latest win came on the back of a sensational captaincy debut in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, where India drew the five-Test series in England 2-2.
Captain Fantastic in England
Taking over the Test captaincy is never easy, doing it on your first overseas tour in England is even tougher. But Shubman Gill made it look effortless. In the series, he racked up 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40, smashing four centuries and breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s 42-year-old record for most runs by an Indian captain in a five-Test series (Gavaskar scored 732 in 1979).
The standout moment came at Edgbaston, Birmingham. In the second Test, Gill played one of the greatest batting performances in modern Test history, 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second, totaling 430 runs in the match. Only Graham Gooch’s 456 against India in 1990 sits above this in Test cricket’s all-time aggregates. That double century also became the highest individual Test score by an Indian captain.
And he didn’t stop there. A gritty 103 at Old Trafford in the fourth Test kept India alive in the series, while his match-winning 147 at Headingley turned the momentum in India’s favor earlier on. By the end of the tour, Gill had cemented his place as India’s new Mr. Reliable at No. 4, the position long held by Virat Kohli.
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Records That Tell the Story
Gill’s England tour wasn’t just about runs; it was about rewriting history books:
- Most runs by an Indian captain in a five-Test series — 754 (beating Gavaskar’s 732).
- Second-most runs by any captain in Test history, behind Sir Donald Bradman’s 810 in the 1936–37 Ashes.
- Highest individual Test score by an Indian captain — 269 at Edgbaston.
- Third-highest away Test score by an Indian batter.
- Second-highest match aggregate in Test history — 430 runs.
These aren’t just numbers; they’re proof that Gill has stepped into the role of captain with both class and dominance.
The Competition He Beat
Gill’s win didn’t come uncontested. July 2025 had three standout performers vying for the ICC award.
- Ben Stokes (England): England’s talismanic skipper scored 251 runs at 50.20 and claimed 12 wickets at 26.33. He was Player of the Match in back-to-back Tests at Lord’s and Old Trafford, showing his trademark fight with both bat and ball.
- Wiaan Mulder (South Africa): Leading South Africa for the first time, Mulder scored a jaw-dropping 531 runs at an average of 265.50 against Zimbabwe, including an unbeaten 367 – the highest Test score by a South African. He also chipped in with seven wickets at 15.28.
On any other month, either of them might have taken the award. But Gill’s series-defining run glut in England tipped the scales his way.
Shubman Gill’s Reaction
He said:
“It feels great to be named the ICC Player of the Month for July. This time it holds a lot more significance since it has come for my performances during my first Test series as captain.
“The double ton in Birmingham is obviously something I will cherish forever and will be one of the highlights of my tour to England.
“The Test series against England was a learning experience for me as captain and we had some outstanding performances from both sides, which I am sure players from both sides will remember for a long time.”
“I would like to thank the jury for selecting me for this award and my teammates who have been with me during the course of this exciting series. I look forward to continuing my form in the season ahead and bring more laurels for the country.”
A Historic Milestone
This win puts Gill in rare company. He is the **only male cricketer** to win four ICC Player of the Month awards. In the women’s game, only Australia’s Ash Gardner and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews have matched that number.
It’s evidence of his consistency over the last few years as well as his form. Gill has emerged as the face of India’s next cricket time frame, from his breakout year in 2023 to his ongoing dominance in 2025.
Shubman Gill has gone from a talented young opener to a captain who breaks records. July 2025 had many great moments in cricket, but it will always be remembered as the month when a young leader made history.
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