Shafali Verma and Sneha Rana have earned spots on the ICC's shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Month for June following their impressive displays on the field. They are competing for the award against England's star left-arm spinner, Sophie Ecclestone.
On the men's side, the nominations include Quinton de Kock from South Africa and New Zealand's Devon Conway and Kyle Jamieson. The two Kiwis were highlighted for their essential contributions during the World Test Championship (WTC) final and their successful series against England.
The 17-year-old batting prodigy Shafali Verma left a mark during her debut Test against England in Bristol. Having already proven herself in shorter formats, she excelled in the long form by scoring 96 and 63 in her two innings. This achievement made her the first Indian woman and the fourth player ever to score two half-centuries in a debut Test, earning her the Player of the Match award.
Sneha Rana also stepped onto the Test stage for the first time against England, where she played a crucial role in securing a draw with an unbeaten 80. Her contribution wasn't limited to batting; she took 4 wickets for 131 runs in the first innings, claiming key scalps like Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont, and later added another wicket in an ODI match against the English side.
Sophie Ecclestone of England dominated the bowling department in the single Test against India, taking a total of eight wickets for 206 runs. She maintained her strong form in the subsequent two ODIs, picking up three wickets in each game.