India pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been wreaking havoc in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023, has been nominated for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for October 2023, along with South Africa opener Quinton de Kock and young gun Rachin Ravindra from New Zealand.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday revealed the latest group of international superstars in contention to win the ICC Player of the Month awards following an action-packed month of cricket in October,” the ICC said in a statement.
India speedster Bumrah was at his destructive best with the ball in the opening stages of CWC23, claiming a slew of crucial wickets to fuel India’s unbeaten start to the competition. India’s frontline pacer was at the heart of their spectacular bowling displays as they opened their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign in a destructive fashion.
He began his campaign with two wickets for 35 runs against Australia in Chennai before blitzing Afghanistan for four wickets for 39 runs in Delhi. This trend continued spectacularly, with the seamer collecting two for 19 in a Player of the Match performance against arch-rival Pakistan in Ahmedabad, including the coveted wicket of Mohammad Rizwan with a beautiful slower ball. Bumrah grabbed 14 wickets at an average of 15.07 and had a remarkable economy of 3.91.
On the other hand, De Kock has already announced his retirement from one-day international cricket at the end of the Cricket World Cup, but his effect was as strong as ever during the Proteas’ strong start to CWC23 in October.
Back-to-back centuries against Sri Lanka and Australia got him started in the tournament, and after failing in subsequent matches against the Netherlands and England, he hammered 174 against Bangladesh to get back on track.
