India women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award for the month of September 2022, making her the first Indian female player to win this prestigious award.

She had competition from her fellow countrymate Smriti Mandhana and Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana.

Mandhana had been nominated for her Player of the Match performance in India’s only T20I win on the England tour, and for scoring 111 runs at an average of 55.50 while striking at 137.03. She also made 181 runs with two scores of 50 plus in the ODI series.

Nigar Sultana, the Bangladesh captain, helped her team win the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022. She scored 67 against Ireland, and then 56* against the USA.

Mohammad Rizwan named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for September 2022

On the other hand, Harmanpreet Kaur was the star of India’s 3-0 whitewash win over England in their own backyard, which was the Women in Blue’s first since 1999.

"It was great to be nominated for the award and to win it is an amazing feeling. To come out as a winner when being nominated alongside Smriti and Nigar is very humbling. I have always taken immense pride in representing my country and achieving the historic ODI series win in England will remain a landmark moment for me in my career.

The game of cricket is blessed to have some of the finest athletes on the sporting circuit and to be chosen the ICC Women’s Player of the Month amongst them is a special recognition for me as an individual and the captain of the Indian cricket team," Harmanpreet Kaur was quoted as saying by the ICC website.

She finished as the highest run-getter with 221 runs at an average of 221 and a strike rate of 103.27. She scored 74* and 143* in the ODIs.