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Mitchell, Root, Yadav Vie for ICC Player of the Month After Stellar January

The ICC has announced Daryl Mitchell, Joe Root, and Suryakumar Yadav as the three nominees for the Men's Player of the Month for January. Mitchell earned his spot by scoring consecutive ODI centuries against India, propelling New Zealand to a series win and the top ODI batting ranking. Root was instrumental in England's ODI series comeback against Sri Lanka, scoring 242 runs and a crucial unbeaten 111 in the decider. Yadav broke a long lean patch with a blistering T20I series against New Zealand, smashing 242 runs at a strike rate of 196.74 to lead India to a 4-1 victory.

Key Points: ICC Player of the Month Nominees: Mitchell, Root, Yadav

  • Mitchell's twin tons vs India
  • Root's series-winning 111 vs Sri Lanka
  • Yadav's explosive 242-run T20I series
  • All three won Player of the Series awards
  • Nominations highlight a busy global cricket month
2 min read

India captain among ICC Player of the Month nominees for January

Daryl Mitchell, Joe Root, and Suryakumar Yadav nominated for ICC Men's Player of the Month after dominant performances in January.

"Mitchell scored 352 runs at an average of 176 against India - ICC Report"

Dubai, Feb 21

The International Cricket Council has named Daryl Mitchell, Joe Root, and Suryakumar Yadav as contenders for the Men's Player of the Month for January. These players have been exceptional, making notable contributions with both bat and ball during a busy month of cricket.

New Zealand star Mitchell had a strong start to the year, guiding his team to a 2-1 victory in India during the ODI series. The all-rounder scored consecutive centuries in the second and third matches, enabling New Zealand to come back from a 0-1 series deficit.

Mitchell scored 352 runs at an average of 176 against India, earning him the Player of the Series award and the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings. Additionally, he scored 125 runs at a strike rate of 186.56 in the five-match T20I series against India.

Joe Root played a crucial role in England's comeback victory against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series. Improving with every game, Root scored 61 in the first match, increased his contribution with 75 in the second, and scored an unbeaten 111 in the final, helping England overcome a 0-1 series deficit to win 2-1.

He was named Player of the Series, scoring 242 runs and taking two wickets. Root also brought a rare spark to the challenging Ashes 2025/26 series against Australia. Although the hosts ultimately secured a 4-1 series victory, Root's 160 in the first innings of the Sydney Test highlighted his brilliance.

Suryakumar Yadav found his rhythm just before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, delivering an outstanding performance against New Zealand in the five-match T20I series.

After a period of poor form where he couldn't score 50 in 25 matches, Yadav ended it by making three half-centuries, helping India secure a 4-1 victory. He scored a total of 242 runs across five games, with a strike rate of 196.74, earning him the Player of the Series award.

The key performance occurred in the second match, where Suryakumar scored an unbeaten 82, guiding India to surpass New Zealand's total of 208 in only 15.2 overs. This marked India's second-highest successful chase in the shortest format of the game.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Daryl Mitchell was a nightmare for our bowlers in the ODIs. Scoring 352 runs at an average of 176 is just insane. Respect for his performance, but our bowling attack needs to find answers for such players.
P
Priya S
Joe Root is pure class. Even in a losing Ashes cause, that 160 in Sydney shows his quality. But honestly, for Player of the Month, my vote is with Surya. The impact in T20s and the timing of his comeback is just perfect.
A
Aman W
All three are deserving, but Mitchell's consistency across formats against us was something else. He single-handedly won them the ODI series. Tough competition this month!
K
Kavya N
Suryakumar Yadav's strike rate of 196 is mind-blowing! 😲 Chasing 208 in 15 overs is the kind of fearless cricket we want to see. Hope this is a permanent return to form and not just a flash in the pan.
D
David E
As a neutral fan, it's great to see such performances. Root's elegance, Mitchell's power, and Surya's innovation. Cricket is the real winner. Though I'd give a slight edge to Mitchell for dominating in Indian conditions.
N
Nikhil C

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