The ICC Hall of Fame honors the accomplishments of cricket legends. Initiated by the ICC on January 2, 2009, in collaboration with FICA (Federation of International Cricketers Association), the Hall of Fame annually inducts new members during the ICC Awards Ceremony. The most recent inductee is former Indian cricketer Neetu David.
Neetu made her international debut on February 7, 1995, in a Test match against New Zealand. Over 16 innings, she claimed 41 wickets, maintaining an impressive average of 18.90 and an economy rate of 1.74. Her wicket count includes three instances of four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. Notably, her best bowling performance was on November 24, 1995, against England in Jamshedpur, where she recorded outstanding match figures of 8 wickets for 53 runs from 31.3 overs, the best individual performance in an innings despite her team’s loss. Her final red-ball appearance for India was on February 18, 2006, against Australia.
Neetu David is now the second Indian female in the ICC Hall of Fame, joining Diana Edulji.
– 10 Tests – 41 wickets
– 97 ODIs – 141 wicketsCongratulations to Neetu David 🇮🇳#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/kb8RnnCXza
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 16, 2024
Her ODI debut occurred on February 12, 1995, also against New Zealand. In 97 innings, she took 141 wickets, boasting an average of 16.34 and an economy rate of 2.82. Her accolades in ODIs include four four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls. On February 29, 2004, she excelled against the West Indies in Jamshedpur with exceptional bowling figures of 5 for 20 in 9.4 overs, becoming the first Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in Women’s ODIs. Neetu played her last ODI on September 7, 2008.
She concluded her domestic career in 2013, playing the final of the 2012–13 Senior Women’s T20 League with Railways, thus wrapping up a remarkable 20-year journey that began in the 1992-93 season with Uttar Pradesh. After retiring, she continued to contribute to the sport and was appointed the chairperson of India’s women’s national selection panel in September 2020.
Image Source: Neetu David @ Instagram
