The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month award for February 2025, featuring three cricketers who have dazzled in different formats: Australia’s Steve Smith, India’s Shubman Gill, and New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips.
While all three players have put up stellar performances, their contrasting styles and contributions bring an interesting debate to the table—who truly deserves the crown?
Steve Smith:
Australian veteran Steve Smith’s nomination is a testament to his continued dominance in the longer format. Despite retiring from One Day Internationals (ODIs), Smith reaffirmed his reputation as one of the finest Test batsmen of this era.
During Australia’s recent two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, Smith played two exceptional knocks of 141 and 131. His strike rate of 136.00 in Tests—an unusually aggressive number for the format—showcased his ability to adapt and accelerate when needed. His resilience and technical excellence made him the Player of the Series, reinforcing his legacy as a red-ball stalwart.
However, Smith’s ODI performances in February were relatively underwhelming, scoring just 65 runs in four innings at an average of 21.66. Given his Test heroics, the question remains: Should a player excelling in just one format outshine those delivering across multiple formats?
Shubman Gill:
India’s rising star, Shubman Gill, has been in red-hot form, cementing his status as the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman. He amassed a staggering 406 runs in five innings, maintaining an average of 101.50 and a strike rate of 94.19—numbers that underline his consistency and ability to anchor the innings.
Gill was instrumental in India’s 3-0 series victory against England at home, earning the Player of the Series award. He then carried his form into the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, where he smashed a gutsy century against Bangladesh in India’s opening match and followed it up with a composed 46-run knock against arch-rivals Pakistan.
As an ODI specialist, Gill’s dominance in the 50-over format makes him a strong contender for the award, but does his limited impact in Tests and T20Is put him at a disadvantage compared to his competitors?
Glenn Phillips:
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips is arguably the most versatile candidate among the three, making a significant impact across formats. While he is widely recognized for his athleticism in the field, February saw him excel with the bat as well.
Phillips was a key factor in New Zealand’s tri-nation ODI series victory against Pakistan and South Africa. His consistency stood out as he remained unbeaten in all three matches, registering scores of 106, 28, and 20. His impressive strike rate of 124.21 in ODIs highlighted his ability to balance stability with aggressive stroke play.
Furthermore, Phillips extended his form into the Champions Trophy, contributing an important half-century against Pakistan and another unbeaten knock against Bangladesh. His all-round brilliance, both as a batsman and fielder, strengthens his case for the ICC award.
Who Deserves the Award?
The ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February 2025 will come down to how the panel values each player’s contributions:
- If Test performances hold the most weight, Smith’s twin centuries in Sri Lanka make him the clear favorite.
- If ODI form and batting consistency are the primary factors, Gill’s dominance in the 50-over format gives him an edge.
- If versatility, all-format impact, and overall contribution are key, then Phillips’ balanced performances make him a strong candidate.
