New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Bangladesh’s Sobhana Mostary have been crowned the ICC Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for January 2026 after delivering outstanding performances in international cricket.
Mitchell edged out India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and England’s Joe Root to claim the men’s honour. The New Zealand all-rounder played a decisive role in the ODI series against India ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
With the Kiwis trailing 0-1 in the three-match contest, Mitchell responded with consecutive centuries — an unbeaten 131 in the second ODI followed by 137 in the series decider.
His contributions powered New Zealand to 337/8 in the final ODI and sealed a 2-1 series triumph. Across the series, he amassed 352 runs at an average of 176, earning the Player of the Series award and reclaiming the No. 1 position in the ICC ODI batting rankings.
Mitchell carried his form into the subsequent T20I series, scoring 125 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 186.56, further highlighting his impact across formats.
More Read
His performances also saw him regain the top ranking in ODIs. He is currently placed at No. 2 with a rating of 845, with India’s Virat Kohli at 795 and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran following.
Sobhana Mostary Powers Bangladesh’s Dominant Run
In the women’s category, Sobhana Mostary was pivotal to Bangladesh’s unbeaten campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.
The Bangladesh batter accumulated 229 runs in six matches, averaging 45.80 with a strike rate of 145.85. Her consistent and aggressive approach separated her from fellow nominees, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis and Tara Norris.
Mostary’s contributions ensured Bangladesh maintained control throughout the tournament, playing a key role in their successful run.
The ICC acknowledged both Mitchell and Mostary for their ability to deliver under pressure and shape the outcome of matches, naming them the standout performers for January 2026.
