Amid the ongoing excitement of IPL 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the Player of the Month award for March. This time, the spotlight is on two Indian stars—Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson—who are competing for the honour alongside South African wicketkeeper-batsman Conor Esterhuizen.

Both Bumrah and Samson earned their nominations due to their outstanding performances in the T20 World Cup 2026, while Esterhuizen impressed with his performances in the T20 series against New Zealand.

Sanju Samson’s Stellar Form
Sanju Samson has been in exceptional form, continuing his dominance from the 2025 T20 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament. In the recent tournament, Samson delivered crucial performances at key moments.

He scored an unbeaten 97 in the Super 8 stage against the West Indies, followed by a brilliant 89 in the semi-final against England. He also contributed significantly in the final, showcasing consistency under pressure.

Overall, Samson accumulated 275 runs across three crucial matches at a remarkable strike rate of 199.27. His match-winning performances earned him consecutive Player of the Match awards and helped him break into the top 20 of the ICC T20 batting rankings.

Tough Competition Ahead
With Jasprit Bumrah also delivering impactful performances and Esterhuizen emerging as a strong contender, the race for the ICC Player of the Month award remains highly competitive.