London, Jun 9 (PTI): Former India captain MS Dhoni was on Monday inducted into the ICC's Hall of Fame for the year 2025 along with Australian great Matthew Hayden and South Africa's Hashim Amla.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be inducting seven cricketers — five men and two women — in its Hall of Fame 2025.
"Celebrated for his calm under pressure and unmatched tactical nous, but also a trailblazer in the shorter formats, MS Dhoni's legacy as one of the game's greatest finishers, leaders and wicketkeepers has been honoured with his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame," said the ICC statement.
"With 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals and 538 matches across formats for India, Dhoni's numbers reflect not just excellence but extraordinary consistency, fitness and longevity," it said.
Dhoni, who led India to the T20 World Cup win in 2007, ODI World Cup victory in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013, said in a statement shared by the governing body that, "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."
"To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever."
A destructive opener who instilled fear in the opposition and became a two-time World Cup winner 🙌
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
Matthew Hayden enters the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️ https://t.co/FvQ2Vv5tk5 pic.twitter.com/YBUaVIzmdZ
Unorthodox, unconventional and effective 🙌
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
A cricketer beyond numbers and statistics 👏
MS Dhoni is inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️ https://t.co/oV8mFaBfze pic.twitter.com/AGRzL0aP79
Cool, calm and composed 🥶
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
Hashim Amla takes his place in the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️: https://t.co/IwUIurXeN8 pic.twitter.com/a0683wA0jd
A stylish batter and a gifted captain 👌
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
A leader who made the Proteas believe 🫡
Graeme Smith enters the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️: https://t.co/yPjMNGHNH9 pic.twitter.com/W35dch1iys
The dependable Kiwi spin maestro 👌
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
An adept all-rounder and a stellar leader 👏
Daniel Vettori enters the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️: https://t.co/2rOeuqBdYB pic.twitter.com/XWw6Kkx5Cc
Revolutionising the sport for young girls around the globe, both on and off the field 👏
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
Sana Mir becomes the first Pakistan women's cricketer to enter the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️ https://t.co/wxeJRWolhK pic.twitter.com/NJtNAkBbjA
Titles and accolades for England across the globe 🏴
— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025
One of the finest wicket-keepers to have played the game 👏
Sarah Taylor enters the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇
More ➡️: https://t.co/0wQuwvwdt9 pic.twitter.com/KYgfdzZSs7
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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Cong candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in voter list, wins
Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
