India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October 2026, and South Africa's Marco Jansen has won the men's award, the ICC announced on 13 November. For Deepti it is the second time she has won the monthly honour. For Jansen it is the first.

Deepti's month against Zimbabwe

Deepti, 29, played all six matches of India's home series against Zimbabwe, three T20Is and three ODIs, and India stayed unbeaten throughout. According to India Today and Female Cricket, she finished with 155 runs and seven wickets across the six games.

She started in the first T20I in Raipur, hitting 49 off 37 balls to help India recover from an early collapse. She took two wickets across the T20I series, which India won 3-0.

In the ODIs she took two wickets in the opener, then produced her best performance in the second game in Vadodara. Batting at number six, she made an unbeaten 106 off 86 balls with 15 fours and also took 3 for 32. India won by 121 runs and sealed the series. According to India Today, it was her second ODI century and her first in the format since an innings of 188 against Ireland in May 2017.

Deepti said the series was "a great one" for the team and that she was proud of the youngsters. She said scoring a century in a winning cause made it more special, and dedicated the award to her fans. She beat Bangladesh's Sobhana Mostary and Australia's Annabel Sutherland, who were also shortlisted. Her first award came in December 2023, after her performances against England and Australia.

Jansen's first monthly award

Marco Jansen, 26, was named Men's Player of the Month for his part in South Africa's three-match Test series against Australia, which South Africa won 2-1. He beat Pakistan's Arafat Minhas and West Indies captain Shai Hope, who were also on the shortlist.

According to SA Cricket Mag, his best Test was the second one in Gqeberha, where he made 85 and took 5 for 33 in the first innings and 1 for 34 in the second. South Africa won that match by an innings and 31 runs. A Sports reports that he also made another half-century and took three wickets in the deciding third Test. Cricket Addictor and SA Cricket Mag give different month totals for his runs and wickets, so we are not quoting a single figure for the month.

SA Cricket Mag reports that the performances took Jansen to number one in the ICC Test bowling rankings, replacing Mitchell Starc, and to number one among Test all-rounders, replacing Ravindra Jadeja. It adds that he is the first South African bowler at the top since Kagiso Rabada in 2024 and the first South African all-rounder since Vernon Philander in August 2014.

Jansen said the award was a great honour after a competitive series and one of the most memorable of his career. He added that cricket is a team sport and that South Africa's focus is now on reaching next year's World Test Championship final.

How the award works

According to SA Cricket Mag, the monthly award is decided by a fan vote and a panel of former players and media representatives. A shortlist is announced first and the winners are named later.

What it means for India

For Indian cricket, the award is a reminder of how much Deepti contributes with both bat and ball. For fans following the Test game, Jansen's rise to number one is a sign of how the South African side is shaping up for the next cycle.

The ICC has not yet said when the next shortlist will be announced.