ICC Player of the Month October 2026: Jansen, Deepti Sharma Win

Pakistani fans were watching this award closely because Arafat Minhas was on the men's shortlist after a match-winning month in the home ODI tri-series. In the end, the award went to Marco Jansen for his all-round role in South Africa's Test series win over Australia.

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October 2026 Winners at a Glance

Why Marco Jansen Won

Jansen, 26, played a key part in South Africa's 2-1 Test series win over Australia, part of the World Test Championship. According to the ICC:

• In the second Test at Gqeberha, he scored 85 and took six wickets in the match. South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs to level the series.
• In the series-deciding third Test, he added another half-century and three more wickets.
• He moved to the top of the ICC Men's Test All-Rounder Rankings.

This is his first Player of the Month award. Jansen said it was a great honour and that the achievement reflected the support of his teammates.

Arafat Minhas: Pakistan's Nominee

Arafat Minhas came close. The ICC's nomination notes highlight his performances in Pakistan's home ODI tri-series, which Pakistan won:

• Against England he scored a crucial 59 and then took 6 for 40, which the ICC said were the second-best ODI bowling figures by a Pakistan bowler at home.
• In the final against Sri Lanka he hit 61 off 31 balls as Pakistan chased 326 to lift the trophy.
• He was named Player of the Series.

Minhas has carried that form into Test cricket, scoring a quick 52 in Pakistan's first innings of the drawn Rawalpindi Test against Sri Lanka this week. For background on the tri-series, read Mike Hesson's plan for the final.

Shai Hope's Run Feast

West Indies captain Shai Hope had a remarkable month against India. The ICC says he made an unbeaten 162 in the third ODI in New Chandigarh as West Indies chased 352, their highest successful ODI chase. He then struck two centuries in the five-match T20I series, including 102 not out off 50 balls, and finished with 261 runs at a strike rate of 190.51.

Deepti Sharma Wins Women's Award

Deepti Sharma, 29, won the women's award for the second time. India were unbeaten in six international matches against Zimbabwe in October, and Deepti contributed with bat and ball across both formats:

• A quick 49 in the first T20I in Raipur, and two wickets across the T20I series, which India swept.
• Her second ODI century and three wickets in the second ODI.
• In total, 155 runs and seven wickets across the month, according to the ICC.

Deepti said scoring the century was a particularly special moment and thanked the voting panel and fans.

How the Award Works

The ICC names three nominees for each award early in the following month, and fans can vote on the ICC website. Deepti thanked both the voting panel and the fans in her reaction. The October nominees were announced on 5 November and the winners on 13 November. Last month's winners are covered in our report on the September 2026 ICC Player of the Month.

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