Indian opener Shafali Verma and all-rounder Sneh Rana were on Wednesday nominated for the ICC women’s Player of the Month award for June. These nominations follow their exploits against Heather Knight and company on English soil. 

The Indian women’s team last month, in heroic fashion, drew the only Test match they played against England. Both Rana and Verma played key roles in denying the hosts a win. Then Mithali Raj and company faced the English women’s team in an ODI series. Riding on Raj’s stunning half-century, India managed to sneak a win but lost the series 2-1. 

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However, Shafali Verma and Sneh Rana impressed everyone with their potential. 17-year-old Verma became the youngest Indian cricketer to feature in all formats. She was named Player of the Match in the Test at Bristol. She also became the first Indian woman and fourth from overall to score half-centuries in both innings of a debut Test, notching 96 and 63. Shafali Verma’s 96 is the highest by an Indian woman on debut. She amassed 59 runs in two ODIs.

Sneh Rana also had a memorable Test debut at Bristol with her unbeaten 80 off 154 deliveries helping India stave off defeat against England after they were made to follow on. Earlier in the match, she finished with four for 131, accounting for well-set opener Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones among others. She also took one for 43 in an ODI against the same side.

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English left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has also been nominated for the award. The 22-year-old finished the Test match with impressive figures of 8/206 at an average of 25.75.

In the male category, New Zealand opener Devon Conway and pacer Kyle Jamieson were nominated. South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman was also named in the June list.