Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma shortlisted for ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for July 2024

The nominations for the ICC Women's Player of the Month for July 2024 have been announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Two Indians have been included among the three players in the list. All three players are the openers.

The two Indians who are nominated for the prestigious award are Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Both have had a fantastic month in all the formats of the game. The other player nominated for the award is Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu.

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Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma make it to the list

Smriti Mandhana was the winner of the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for June 2024 and has been nominated for the award again this month. She is having a fantastic time with the bat recently. The left-hander was highly impressive in the home series against South Africa last month and has continued her form this month as well.

In the recently concluded Asia Cup 2024, Mandhana scored 173 runs in five matches at an average of 57.66 and a strike rate of 137.30. She scored a brilliant 60 off 47 balls in the final against Sri Lanka but failed to take India over the line in the summit clash.

In the T20I series against South Africa played earlier this month, Mandhana finished with 100 runs in two innings at an average of 100 and a strike rate of 142.85. She scored 54* in the final T20I to help India level the series 1-1.

Overall, Mandhana scored 273 runs at an average of 68.25 and a strike rate of 139.28 in all the T20Is played in July 2024.

Meanwhile, Mandhana's opening partner Shafali Verma has also been added to this prestigious list. Verma had a brilliant Asia Cup 2024 where she finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament with 200 runs from five matches at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 140.84.

She scored a fiery 40 off 29 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan in India's first match of the tournament. Then, she also scored a career-best 81 off 48 balls against Nepal.

Shafali Verma also became the second Indian women's batter after Mithali Raj to score a double century. Verma reached her double hundred off just 194 balls against South Africa. Overall, she scored 205 as India posted 603-6 on the board, which is the highest team total in women's Tests.

During the T20I series against South Africa, Shafali Verma scored 45 runs while being dismissed just once in two innings at a strike rate of 115.38. Overall, Verma scored 229 runs in Tests and 245 runs in T20Is during this period.

Chamari Athapaththu looking to win the award for the third time

Another player on this list is Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu. Arguably the best women's cricketer from the island to date, Athapaththu was instrumental in Sri Lanka's historic Asia Cup triumph this month. This was their maiden Asia Cup title as well.

The allrounder led from the front and emerged as the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 304 runs in five matches at an average of 101.33 and a strike rate of 146.85. She also picked up three wickets with the ball.

The Sri Lankan captain scored a brilliant 61 off 43 balls in the final against India to help her team clinch the title. Athapaththu was adjudged Player of the Tournament for her overall brilliance in the tournament.