Sourav Ganguly Enters ICC Hall of Fame Alongside Kevin Pietersen and Anjum Chopra

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was formally inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame on Saturday during a ceremony in Edinburgh, receiving one of cricket’s highest honours. The Class of 2026 also welcomes England great Kevin Pietersen and former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra, bringing the total number of inductees to 125.

The announcement arrived as a birthday gift on 8 July 2026, when Ganguly turned 54. The left-handed batter, affectionately known as “Dada,” made a sensational Test debut against England in 1996 with centuries in his first two innings. Over a distinguished career, he amassed 7,212 runs in 113 Tests at an average of 42.17, including 16 centuries, and 11,363 runs in 311 ODIs at 41.02 with 22 centuries, while also claiming 100 ODI wickets with his medium pace.

Ganguly’s Transformative Captaincy

Appointed captain in 2000 amid the match-fixing crisis, Ganguly rebuilt the side with aggression and self-belief. His tenure produced a string of landmark achievements: the historic 2001 home series victory over Australia, India’s first Test series win in Pakistan in 2004, the unforgettable 2002 NatWest Trophy triumph at Lord’s, a joint Champions Trophy title in 2002, and a run to the 2003 ODI World Cup final. His leadership is widely credited with pulling Indian cricket out of a dark era and laying the foundation for future success.

Beyond the field, Ganguly has served as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal and the BCCI, and currently holds the role of head coach for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.

Indian Legends in the ICC Hall of Fame

Ganguly becomes the 12th Indian overall and the 10th Indian men’s cricketer to earn this distinction, joining an elite group that includes Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Vinoo Mankad, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, and Bishan Singh Bedi. From the women’s game, Diana Edulji and Neetu David were previously inducted. With the additions of Ganguly and Chopra, 13 Indian players now reside in the ICC Hall of Fame.

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