The International Cricket Council inducted former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra, along with former England skipper Kevin Pietersen, into the ICC Hall of Fame during its Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland on 11 July 2026. Ganguly became the 12th Indian overall and the 10th Indian male cricketer to receive this honour, while Chopra became only the third Indian woman inducted. The trio forms the Class of 2026, taking the total number of Hall of Fame members to 125.
About the ICC Hall of Fame
The ICC Hall of Fame was launched in January 2009 as part of the International Cricket Council’s centenary celebrations. It was created in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) to recognise the achievements of legends who have shaped the sport’s history.
The Hall of Fame began with 55 inaugural inductees, drawn from the FICA Hall of Fame that had run from 1999 to 2003. These initial members ranged from W.G. Grace, who retired from Test cricket in 1899, to Graham Gooch, who played his last Test in 1995.
A player becomes eligible for induction only after being retired from all forms of international cricket for at least five years. This ensures that the honour remains exclusive to those whose careers have stood the test of time. Living inductees receive a commemorative cap, and existing members of the Hall of Fame assist in selecting future inductees.
With the addition of Ganguly, Chopra, and Pietersen, the total number of Hall of Fame members now stands at 125. England leads the list with the highest number of representatives, followed by Australia and the West Indies. India now has 13 members in the Hall of Fame, reflecting the country’s rich cricketing heritage.
Sourav Ganguly
Affectionately known as the Prince of Kolkata or Dada, Sourav Ganguly is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket history. His induction into the ICC Hall of Fame recognises not just his batting brilliance but his role in transforming Indian cricket’s identity.
Career Highlights
Ganguly made a sensational entry into Test cricket in 1996 at Lord’s, scoring a century on debut. He followed it with another hundred in his second Test, becoming only the third batter in history to score centuries in each of his first two innings.
Over a 16-year international career (1992 to 2008), Ganguly amassed more than 18,000 international runs. In 113 Tests, he scored 7,212 runs at an average of 42.17, including 16 centuries and 35 half-centuries, with a highest score of 239. In 311 One-Day Internationals, he scored 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02, with 22 centuries and 72 half-centuries, and a best of 183. He also picked up 100 wickets in ODIs and 32 wickets in Tests with his right-arm medium pace.
Ganguly formed one of ODI cricket’s most celebrated opening partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar. Together, they redefined run-chasing and set numerous records for the highest partnerships in ODI cricket. His elegant strokeplay through the off-side earned him the nickname God of the Off-side.
Transformational Captaincy
Ganguly was appointed captain of the Indian team in 2000, a period when Indian cricket was reeling from the match-fixing scandal. He inherited a fragile team and turned it into a confident, competitive unit that could win abroad.
Under his captaincy, India reached the final of the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy. The team went on to share the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka and reached the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. One of the most memorable moments of his captaincy came during the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where India defeated Australia after being asked to follow on, ending Australia’s record 16-match winning streak. He also led India to a historic Test series victory in Pakistan in 2004, the first by an Indian team.
Ganguly was known for backing young talent. He nurtured players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan, who went on to become match-winners for India. His aggressive captaincy and fearless approach laid the foundation for India’s rise as a global cricketing powerhouse.
After retiring, Ganguly served as BCCI President from 2019 to 2022, steering Indian cricket through the COVID-19 pandemic. He is currently the head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20 and the Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals in IPL and WPL.
Anjum Chopra
Anjum Chopra is one of the pioneers of women’s cricket in India. Her induction into the ICC Hall of Fame recognises a 17-year international career that laid the foundation for the growth of the women’s game in the country. She is only the third Indian woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, after Diana Edulji (2023) and Neetu David (2024).
A Trailblazing Career
Chopra made her international debut as a teenager against New Zealand in 1995. She quickly established herself as a reliable opening batter and went on to become the first Indian woman to play 100 One-Day Internationals and the first to score 1,000 ODI runs. Over her career, she amassed more than 3,500 international runs across formats.
She represented India in six ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups and was the team’s leading run-scorer at the 2000 World Cup. Her consistency at the top of the order and her elegant left-handed strokeplay made her a mainstay of the Indian batting lineup for nearly two decades.
Captaincy and Accolades
Chopra took over the captaincy of the Indian women’s team in 2002 and led the side during a transformative period. Under her leadership, India achieved a historic overseas Test victory against South Africa in 2002, the first by an Indian women’s team. She also guided India to the final of the 2005 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up.
For her contributions to the sport, Chopra received the Arjuna Award, one of India’s highest sporting honours. In 2016, she became the first women’s cricketer from India to be awarded an honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) .
After retiring from playing, Chopra has remained actively involved in cricket as a broadcaster, author, and commentator, helping to popularise the women’s game and inspire the next generation of cricketers.
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen was one of the most destructive batters of his generation and a key figure in England’s rise in international cricket. His induction recognises a career defined by fearless batting, innovation, and match-winning performances.
Pietersen announced himself on the international stage in 2004 with a rapid century against Zimbabwe and went on to become one of the first batters to thrive across all three formats. He scored 13,797 international runs for England and was instrumental in England’s 2010 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
One of his most iconic performances came during the 2005 Ashes series, where he scored a match-defining 158 at The Oval to help England reclaim the Ashes after 18 years. He also reached the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batter rankings and was a multiple-time selection in the ICC Teams of the Year.
Pietersen was known for his innovative shot-making, most notably the switch hit, which added a new dimension to batting. His aggressive approach, combined with a strong temperament, made him a formidable opponent in all conditions.
Indian Cricketers in the ICC Hall of Fame
With the induction of Ganguly and Chopra, the number of Indian cricketers in the ICC Hall of Fame has risen to 13. The complete list of Indian inductees is as follows:
| Player | Category | Year of Induction |
|---|---|---|
| Bishan Singh Bedi | Men’s | 2009 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | Men’s | 2009 |
| Kapil Dev | Men’s | 2010 |
| Anil Kumble | Men’s | 2015 |
| Rahul Dravid | Men’s | 2018 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Men’s | 2019 |
| Vinoo Mankad | Men’s | 2021 |
| Virender Sehwag | Men’s | 2023 |
| MS Dhoni | Men’s | 2025 |
| Sourav Ganguly | Men’s | 2026 |
| Diana Edulji | Women’s | 2023 |
| Neetu David | Women’s | 2024 |
| Anjum Chopra | Women’s | 2026 |
Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, and Kapil Dev were among the inaugural 55 inductees in 2009, recognising India’s cricketing greats from the early decades. The induction of three Indian women in four years (Edulji in 2023, David in 2024, and Chopra in 2026) reflects the growing recognition of women’s cricket achievements on the global stage.
Key Takeaways
- The ICC Hall of Fame was launched in January 2009 as part of the ICC’s centenary celebrations, with 55 inaugural inductees.
- Players become eligible for induction only five years after their retirement from all forms of international cricket.
- Sourav Ganguly scored over 18,000 international runs and served as BCCI President from 2019 to 2022.
- Anjum Chopra was the first Indian woman to play 100 ODIs and the first to score 1,000 ODI runs.
- Kevin Pietersen was named Player of the Tournament in England’s 2010 ICC T20 World Cup winning campaign.
- India now has 13 members in the ICC Hall of Fame, including 10 men and 3 women.
