Simon Harmer for India Test Exploits and Shafali Verma for World Cup Final Heroics Named ICC Players of the Month for November 2025

New Delhi, Dec 15: South Africa's Simon Harmer and India's Shafali Verma have been crowned the ICC Men's and Women's Players of the Month for November 2025, following outstanding performances in marquee international contests.

Harmer clinched the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for the first time, edging past Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam and Pakistan all rounder Mohammad Nawaz. The 36 year old off spinner was instrumental in South Africa's historic two nil ICC World Test Championship series win over India, their first Test series victory on Indian soil in 25 years.

Across the two match series, Harmer produced a sensational combined haul of 17 wickets at a remarkable average of 8.94 and an economy rate of just 1.91. He began with match figures of eight for 51 in the opening Test in Kolkata before delivering a spellbinding performance in Guwahati, where he claimed six for 37 in the second innings to seal the series. His consistency and control proved decisive in dismantling India's batting line up across conditions traditionally dominated by the hosts.

Reacting to the honour, Harmer said it was a privilege to receive the award and credited his teammates, coaches, support staff and family for their unwavering support. He added that representing South Africa remained a lifelong dream and hoped for many more successful seasons with the Proteas.

On the women's side, Shafali Verma was named ICC Women's Player of the Month, beating Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong and UAE captain Esha Oza. The award marked Shafali's first ever Player of the Month recognition and capped a dream return to the Indian setup after being drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.

Shafali rose to the occasion in the World Cup final against South Africa, scoring a superb 87 off 78 balls, the highest score by an Indian opening batter in a Women's World Cup final, to help India post a commanding 298 for seven. She then delivered with the ball, claiming the crucial wickets of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, earning the Player of the Match award as India lifted their maiden Women's World Cup title at home.

Describing the recognition as deeply special, Shafali said the tournament ended beyond her expectations and dedicated the award to her teammates, coaches, family and supporters.

Both winners were decided through a combined vote of global fans registered on icc cricket dot com and a specialist panel of former international players and media representatives. Fans can continue to vote each month for their favourite cricketers across all formats as part of the ICC Player of the Month awards.