Rishabh Pant is the ICC Player of the Month for January 2021

Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant took away the ICC Player of the Month Award in the Men’s category while Proteas pacer Shabnim Ismail won the award in Women’s category.

Earlier ICC announced the nominations for the inaugural monthly awards. Here are the nominees in both categories.

• The ICC Men’s Player of the Month January Nominees:
Rishabh Pant (India) – winner
Joe Root (England)
Paul Stirling (Ireland)

• ICC Women’s Player of the Month January Nominees:
Diana Baig (Pakistan)
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) – winner
Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)

Rishabh Pant scored 245 runs in 4 innings at an average of 81.66 in the month of January. His highest score in the period was a scintillating 97 against Australia at Sydney. He won the Player of the Match award for his match winning 89* at Gabba. He affected 4 dismissals behind the stumps.

Meanwhile Proteas pacer Shabnim Ismail had a sensational month in which she picked 7 wickets each in ODIs and T20Is playing 3 matches in each format. Her ODI bowling average was 17.28 while her T20I economy rate was a stunning 4.00 runs per over. Her best bowling figures for the month of January were 3-22 in ODIs and 5-12 in T20 Internationals.