Former India captain MS Dhoni on Monday, June 9 2025 was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Dhoni has become 11th Indian cricketer to achieve the feat.
ICC recognized Dhoni for his captaincy, wicketkeeping and ability to finish-off the run chases especially in the ODIs. The cricket’s governing body has acknowledged Dhoni’s achievement’s as the skipper of the Indian team by calling him as “one of the most influential captains the game has ever seen”.
It was under Dhoni’s captaincy India won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. Four years later he led the team to win its second ODI World Cup victory, after 1983, when it beat Sri Lanka in the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. His innings of 91 not out and the six that finished off the final, are now part of cricket folklore. In 2013, India won the ICC Champions Trophy with Dhoni at the helm.
By winning the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy in a span of six years, Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC white-ball tournaments. He remains the only skipper to achieve the feat till date.
“India’s rise under Dhoni’s leadership wasn’t limited to white-ball cricket; it extended seamlessly into the red-ball arena as well. Under his captaincy in December 2009, India reached the summit of Test cricket, claiming the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings for the first time since its inception in 2003.” ICC said in a statement.
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“It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world,” Dhoni said in a statement.
Dhoni led India in 332 matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. It is the most number of matches captained by a player in international cricket. He effected 195 stumpings across three formats, which is the most by a wicketkeeper in the cricket history. His knock of 183 not out in a ODI game against Sri Lanka in Jaipur in 2004 is the most runs scored by a wicketkeeper in the format.
In all Dhoni amassed 17,266 international runs and was involved in 839 dismissals in 538 matches that he played for India. ICC said Dhoni’s numbers are go beyond highlighting his excellence and are testimony of his extraordinary consistency, fitness and longevity in the game.
Matthew Hayden of Australia, Hashim Amla of South Africa, Daniel Vettori of New Zealand, Sana Mir of Pakistan and Sarah Taylor were other cricketers were also added to the ICC Hall of Fame alongside Dhoni.
Indian cricketers who are part of ICC Hall of Fame
Before Dhoni, following Indian cricketers had been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame:
Neetu David, Virender Sehwag, Daina Edulji, Vinoo Mankand, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Bishan Bedi and Sunil Gavaskar.
About ICC Hall of Fame
The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame was first constituted in January 2009 in association with the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA) to celebrate 100 years of ICC’s existence. The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame recognises legends of the sport.
Once a cricketer in inducted into ICC Hall of Fame, he or she is presented with a commemorative ICC Cricket Hall of Fame cap. If the cricketer has passed away, their relatives are given the iconic cap. To become eligible to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame a cricketer has to have retired from international cricket for at least five years.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
