If officially confirmed, Ganguly will become the 12th Indian cricketer to be included in the prestigious list, joining some of the biggest names in the history of the sport. The recognition comes as another landmark moment in a career that helped reshape Indian cricket during one of its most challenging phases.

The timing of the expected announcement is particularly significant, coinciding with Ganguly’s 54th birthday. The former left-handed batter also marked the occasion with another major development in his life story, as the first look of his upcoming biographical film, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, was unveiled.

The poster features actor Rajkummar Rao recreating one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history — Ganguly waving his shirt from the Lord’s balcony after India’s dramatic victory in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final. Sharing the poster on social media, Ganguly described it as one of the finest birthday gifts he could have received.

Ganguly’s contribution to Indian cricket extends far beyond statistics. He took over as captain in 2000 when Indian cricket was struggling to recover from the match-fixing controversy that had shaken the sport. At a time when public confidence in the national team was under pressure, Ganguly was entrusted with rebuilding the side and restoring its competitive spirit.

His tenure is widely remembered for backing young players who would later become pillars of Indian cricket. Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Mohammad Kaif and eventually Mahendra Singh Dhoni all emerged during the period when Ganguly was leading the team.

Under his leadership, India developed a more aggressive approach and began competing consistently against top international sides, both at home and overseas. The team shared the ICC Champions Trophy title in 2002, reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa and recorded several memorable overseas performances.

Among the defining achievements of Ganguly’s captaincy were a drawn Test series in England, a historic Test series victory in Pakistan in 2004 and ending Australia’s remarkable run of 16 consecutive Test victories. These results helped establish India as a formidable force in world cricket.

His individual record also reflects a highly successful international career. Ganguly played 113 Test matches for India and scored 7,212 runs, including 16 centuries. In One-Day Internationals, he represented the country in 311 matches and amassed 11,363 runs with 22 centuries to his name.

Known for his elegant strokeplay on the off side, Ganguly formed one of the most successful opening partnerships in ODI history alongside Sachin Tendulkar. He also contributed with the ball, claiming 132 international wickets across formats.

After retiring from international cricket in 2008, Ganguly continued to influence the game through cricket administration. He served as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and remains an influential figure in the sport. He is currently associated with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

The ICC Hall of Fame recognises players who have made exceptional contributions to cricket and left a lasting impact on the game. Ganguly’s expected induction places him alongside Indian greats such as Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, Diana Edulji and others who have previously received the honour.

For many cricket followers, the recognition serves as another acknowledgment of Ganguly’s role in transforming Indian cricket and laying the foundation for the team’s rise as a global powerhouse in the years that followed.