ICC Women's Player of Month Oct 2026: Deepti, Sutherland, Sobhana nominated
Synopsis
Three cricketers, three breakthrough moments: Deepti Sharma's rare ODI century-plus-five-wicket double, Sobhana Mostary's record-breaking 118 for Bangladesh, and Annabel Sutherland's relentless all-round dominance are the competing arguments for the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October 2026 — and each one makes a strong case.
Key Takeaways
Deepti Sharma , Annabel Sutherland , and Sobhana Mostary have been nominated for the ICC Women's Player of the Month — October 2026 .
Deepti scored an unbeaten 106 and took 5 wickets as India swept Zimbabwe 3-0 in ODIs and T20Is.
Sobhana Mostary 's 118 off 134 balls in Brisbane is the highest score by a Bangladesh woman in ODI cricket.
Annabel Sutherland finished the Australia-Bangladesh ODI series with 99 runs (SR 132) and 6 wickets (economy 4.12).
All three nominees contributed in both batting and bowling or as match-defining batters across multiple formats during October 2026 .
Deepti Sharma (India), Annabel Sutherland (Australia), and Sobhana Mostary (Bangladesh) have been shortlisted for the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for October 2026, the International Cricket Council announced. The three nominees each produced standout all-round performances across ODI and T20I series during the month.
Deepti Sharma's Case for the Award
India's off-spin bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma built a compelling case after excelling with both bat and ball as India swept Zimbabwe 3-0 in both ODIs and T20Is at home. Her signature performance arrived in the second ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, where she struck an unbeaten 106 — only her second ODI century and her first since 2017 — and claimed three wickets as India romped to a 121-run win to seal the series.
The 29-year-old batted only once across the ODI leg of the tour, yet finished with five wickets at an economy rate of 3.42. In the T20I series in Raipur, played ahead of the ODIs, Deepti made 49 off 37 balls in the series opener at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium and chipped in with two wickets as India claimed that series too.
Sobhana Mostary Scripts Bangladesh History
Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary etched her name in the record books at Brisbane, where her 118 off 134 balls in the second ODI against Australia became the highest individual score by a Bangladesh woman in the 50-over format. The knock contained 18 boundaries and lifted Bangladesh to 220/6 in their 50 overs — a competitive total even if it ultimately proved insufficient.
Bangladesh went on to lose the series 3-0, but Sobhana's personal returns were impressive: 129 runs across the series at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 73.71. The historic century underlined her growing stature as a batter in women's ODI cricket, and positions her as a credible contender for the monthly honour.
Annabel Sutherland's All-Round Dominance
Australia's seam-bowling all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, 25, was on the winning side of the same Australia-Bangladesh series and delivered decisive contributions throughout. In the series opener in Brisbane, she claimed 4 for 30 with the ball and then made an unbeaten 25 as Australia sealed a seven-wicket win.
She reserved her best batting for the series finale, hammering an unbeaten 74 and adding two more wickets in that match. Sutherland closed the Bangladesh series with 99 runs at a strike rate of 132 and six wickets at an economy of 4.12. She also contributed 19 runs and a wicket in T20Is against New Zealand later in the month, rounding out a highly productive October.
What Happens Next
Voting for the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October 2026 is now open, with fans and a voting panel expected to determine the winner. The result will be announced in the coming weeks. Notably, all three nominees are all-rounders or top-order contributors who influenced outcomes beyond individual statistics — making this one of the more competitive monthly shortlists of the year.
Point of View
Even if collective results lag. The ICC's challenge is to ensure monthly awards don't default to players from dominant teams — recognising Sobhana's knock, win or loss, would send a meaningful signal to emerging cricket nations.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the ICC Women's Player of the Month nominees for October 2026?
The three nominees are India's Deepti Sharma, Australia's Annabel Sutherland, and Bangladesh's Sobhana Mostary. All three produced standout performances across ODI and T20I cricket during October 2026.
What did Deepti Sharma do to earn the nomination?
Deepti Sharma scored an unbeaten 106 in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Vadodara — her first ODI century since 2017 — and finished the home series with 5 wickets at an economy of 3.42. India won both the ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe 3-0.
What record did Sobhana Mostary set in October 2026?
Sobhana Mostary scored 118 off 134 balls against Australia in Brisbane, which is the highest individual score by a Bangladesh woman in ODI cricket. She ended the series with 129 runs at an average of 43, despite Bangladesh losing 3-0.
How did Annabel Sutherland perform in October 2026?
Sutherland took 4 for 30 in the series opener against Bangladesh and finished with 6 wickets at an economy of 4.12 and 99 runs at a strike rate of 132 across the ODI series. She also contributed 19 runs and a wicket in T20Is against New Zealand later in the month.
When will the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October 2026 be announced?
The ICC has opened voting following the shortlist announcement; the winner is expected to be revealed within the coming weeks. The award is decided by a combination of fan voting and an ICC panel.
