Wolvaardt shortlisted for ICC Women's Player of the Month after 115 off 53 vs India
Synopsis
Laura Wolvaardt's 115 off 53 against India has earned her a spot on the ICC Women's Player of the Month shortlist — her second major individual honour in three months. But she faces stiff competition from Sri Lanka's Dulani, who dominated in Bangladesh, and Brazil's Cardosa, who just became the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20I. The race is wide open.
Key Takeaways
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is shortlisted for the ICC Women's Player of the Month award.
Wolvaardt scored 115 off 53 balls (strike rate 216.98 ) in the third T20I against India , guiding South Africa to a nine-wicket victory.
Imesha Dulani was named Player of the Series in Sri Lanka's 2-1 ODI victory over Bangladesh , scoring 116 runs .
Laura Cardosa became the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20I , recording 9 for 4 against Lesotho .
Cardosa also scored 203 runs in seven T20Is at a strike rate over 130 with a bowling economy of 2.24 .
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has been shortlisted for the ICC Women's Player of the Month award, alongside Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani and Brazil all-rounder Laura Cardosa. The three nominees were selected following standout performances across ODI and T20I series in April and early May.
Wolvaardt's dominant run
Wolvaardt has earned her nomination after consecutive strong showings against New Zealand and India. In the ODI series against New Zealand, she accumulated 138 runs across two matches at an average of 69.00, with back-to-back scores of 69. She elevated her form further in the T20I leg, amassing 330 runs in five matches at an average of 82.50 and a strike rate of 168.36.
The South Africa captain's most striking contribution came in the third T20I against India, where she struck an unbeaten 115 off 53 balls to guide the Proteas to a nine-wicket victory while chasing 192. Her knock featured 14 fours and five sixes, with a strike rate of 216.98, demonstrating aggressive intent and match-winning capability. This nomination marks her second major ICC individual honour within three months.
Dulani's all-format excellence
Dulani earned her place on the shortlist after a commanding tour of Bangladesh across both formats. In the ODI leg, she was named Player of the Series in Sri Lanka's 2-1 victory in the ICC Women's Championship, scoring 116 runs. She carried that momentum into the T20I series, contributing 82 runs across two matches, including a fluent 55 off 40 balls in the opening game, which Sri Lanka won by 25 runs.
Cardosa's historic T20I performance
Cardosa has made the shortlist following a remarkable T20I run that included a historic individual milestone. The Brazil all-rounder scored 203 runs across seven matches at a strike rate exceeding 130, with half-centuries against Botswana and Zambia. More impressively, she took 17 wickets at an economy rate of just 2.24, becoming the first player ever to record nine wickets in a single T20I — achieving figures of 9 for 4 against Lesotho.
What's next
The winner of the ICC Women's Player of the Month award will be announced following a voting period that includes fan participation, expert panels, and ICC officials. Wolvaardt's recent consistency across formats and Cardosa's historic bowling feat position this as a closely contested race.
Point of View
But Cardosa's case is harder to ignore. Becoming the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20I is a statistical rarity that transcends monthly awards — it is a career-defining milestone. Dulani's consistency across formats in Bangladesh also stands out as understated excellence. The ICC's voting process will reveal whether the award still values all-format impact or has tilted toward individual match heroics.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICC Women's Player of the Month award?
The ICC Women's Player of the Month is a monthly honour recognising outstanding individual performances across international women's cricket. Nominees are selected based on performances in ODI and T20I series, and the winner is determined through voting by fans, expert panels, and ICC officials.
Why is Laura Wolvaardt nominated?
Wolvaardt scored 138 runs in two ODIs against New Zealand at an average of 69.00, then accumulated 330 runs in five T20Is against India at an average of 82.50. Her standout moment was an unbeaten 115 off 53 balls in the third T20I against India, striking at 216.98 with 14 fours and five sixes.
What did Laura Cardosa achieve in T20Is?
Cardosa became the first player ever to record nine wickets in a single T20I, taking 9 for 4 against Lesotho. Across seven T20Is, she scored 203 runs at a strike rate over 130 and took 17 wickets at an economy rate of 2.24.
How did Imesha Dulani perform in Bangladesh?
Dulani was named Player of the Series in Sri Lanka's 2-1 ODI victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Women's Championship, scoring 116 runs. She added 82 runs across two T20Is, including a 55 off 40 balls in the opening match.
