History of the ICC T20 World Cup

Debuting in 2007, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has rapidly transformed into a global cricketing phenomenon. Played every two years (except when coinciding with the Cricket World Cup),  History of the ICC T20 World Cup electrifying format has seen eight enthralling editions so far. The T20 World Cup trophy has been hoisted by various cricketing giants. As we gear up for the ninth edition kicking off on June 1st, 2024, the T20 World Cup promises another exciting chapter in its already illustrious history.

2007 (The Birth of a New Era)

Host: South Africa

Final: India vs Pakistan

Winner: India – by five runs

Teams: 12

Player of the tournament: Shahid Afridi

The 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa was a defining moment in cricket history. Moreover, the final match between India and Pakistan being one of the most thrilling games ever played in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. On September 24, 2007, at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Emphatically, India clinched victory over Pakistan by 5 runs in a match brimming with intensity and fervor. India, taking the batting stance first, posted a formidable total of 157/5 in their allotted 20 overs, spearheaded by Gautam Gambhir’s stellar innings of 75 runs off 54 balls. However, despite a valiant effort from Misbah-ul-Haq, who scored 43 runs off 38 balls, Pakistan fell short of the target.

Throughout the tournament, Gautam Gambhir emerged as the linchpin of India’s batting lineup, amassing a total of 227 runs at an impressive average of 37.83. RP Singh proved to be India’s trump card in the bowling department, claiming 12 wickets at a remarkable average of 12.66. On the Pakistani front, Misbah-ul-Haq stood out as the leading run-scorer, accumulating 218 runs at an average of 43.60, while Umar Gul spearheaded their bowling attack with 13 wickets at an astonishing average of 11.92.

Notably, the tournament witnessed a historic moment when Yuvraj Singh smashed six sixes in an over against England, thereby etching his name in cricketing folklore as only the second player in international cricket to achieve this remarkable feat. Furthermore, the event served as a platform for the emergence of young talents like Rohit Sharma, whose contributions played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant campaign.

2009 (Rise of the Green Shirts)

Host: England

Final: Pakistan vs Sri lanka

Winner: Pakistan – by eight wickets

Teams: 12

Player of the tournament: Tillakaratne Dilshan

The 2009 ICC T20 World Cup unfolded as an exhilarating spectacle, characterized by stellar performances from powerhouses Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This fiercely contested tournament boasted participation from 12 formidable teams: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies.

In the climactic showdown final at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Pakistan undoubtedly defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in one of cricket’s most iconic moments. Sri Lanka scored 138 for 6 in 20 overs, with Kumar Sangakkara contributing 64 runs. Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan were their top wicket-takers with 12 and 5 wickets, respectively.

Pakistan chased 139, scoring 139 for 2 in 18.4 overs, with Shahid Afridi making 54 runs. Umar Gul was the tournament’s top wicket-taker with 13 wickets. Pakistan’s strength lay in bowling, with standout performances from Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and Shahid Afridi. Afridi also contributed significantly with the bat. Sri Lanka had a balanced side, excelling in spin bowling with Muttiah Muralitharan, though their batting faltered in the final.

Notable Achievements:

1- Shahid Afridi was Man of the Match in the final for his 54 runs.

2- Tillakaratne Dilshan from Sri Lanka was the highest run-scorer with 317 runs.

3- Umar Gul from Pakistan was the highest wicket-taker with 13 wickets.

2010 (England’s Maiden Global Trophy)

Host: West Indies

Final: Australia vs England

Winner: England – by 7 wickets

Teams: 12

Player of the tournament: Kevin Pietersen

The 2010 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, held in the West Indies, was a landmark event where England’s cricket team secured their first major ICC tournament win. Led by Paul Collingwood, England triumphed over Australia in the final, making cricket history.

On May 16, 2010, at Kensington Oval, England scored 148 runs for 3 wickets in their 20 overs. Craig Kieswetter scored 63 runs off 49 balls, and Kevin Pietersen added 47 runs off 31 balls. Australia, led by Michael Clarke, managed 147 runs for 6 wickets. Key bowlers Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann were crucial in restricting Australia.

England consistently performed well throughout the tournament undoubtedly. Kevin Pietersen was the standout batsman, scoring 248 runs with an average of 62.00. Ryan Sidebottom took 10 wickets with an average of 16.00.

Australia also had a strong journey to the final. David Warner scored 289 runs with an average of 48.16, while Dirk Nannes took 14 wickets with an average of 13.07.

The 2010 T20 World Cup featured twelve teams in four groups: England, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland.

2012 (Calypso Kings Reign Supreme)

Host: Sri lanka

Final: Sri lanka vs West Indies

Winner: West Indies – by 36 runs

Teams: 12

Player of the tournament: Shane Watson

The 2012 ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka was the fourth edition of the international cricket championship. Twelve teams participated, including the 10 ICC full members and two associate members, Ireland and Afghanistan.

The final was a thrilling match between West Indies and Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on October 7, 2012. Surprisingly, the underdog West Indies team clinched the title, beating the host team by 36 runs.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. Despite a rocky start at 32/2 in the 10th over, Marlon Samuels emerged as the hero, scoring 78 runs off 56 balls, including six sixes, pushing the total to 137/6 in 20 overs.

Sri Lanka’s response was weak, managing only 101 runs all out in 18.4 overs. West Indies’ spinners, Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree, significantly contributed to this collapse, taking three wickets between them.

Chris Gayle was the leading run-scorer for West Indies, amassing 222 runs at an average of 44.4. Samuels was the most impactful player, especially with his performance in the final.

For Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene was the top scorer with 243 runs, averaging 34.71. Their premier spinner, Ajantha Mendis, took 15 wickets at an average of 9.8 but failed to shine in the final. West Indies excelled with their powerful batting lineup and effective spinners but struggled with inconsistency. 

2014  (The Lion’s Roar)

Host: Bangladesh

Final: Sri lanka vs India

Winner: Sri lanka  – by 6 wickets

Teams: 16

Player of the tournament: Virat Kohli

The 2014 ICC Men’s World Twenty20 cricket tournament was an exciting event featuring top cricketing nations. Sixteen teams participated: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, West Indies, Zimbabwe, and host nation Bangladesh.

The final match between India and Sri Lanka took place on April 6, 2014, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets explicitly, securing their first World T20 title. India batted first, scoring 130/4 in 20 overs with Virat Kohli contributing 77 runs off 58 balls. Sri Lanka chased successfully, scoring 134/4 in 17.5 overs, led by Kumar Sangakkara’s unbeaten 52 runs off 35 balls.

Although, Virat Kohli from India was outstanding, scoring 319 runs in 6 matches with an average of 106.33, earning the Man of the Series title. Ahsan Malik from the Netherlands was the top wicket-taker with 12 wickets in 4 matches. For Sri Lanka, skipper Lasith Malinga was instrumental, taking 5 wickets in the finals and showcasing his death over bowling skills.

India excelled in batting, consistently posting high totals. However, their bowling lacked the necessary firepower, as seen in the finals. Sri Lanka had a balanced team with strong performances in both batting and bowling. Their ability to maintain pressure in high-stakes situations, like the final match, was key to their victory.

2016 (The Caribbean Double)

Host: India

Final: England vs West Indies

Winner: West Indies – by 4 wickets

Teams: 16

Player of the tournament: Virat Kohli

The 2016 T20 World Cup was a thrilling event where the West Indies triumphed over England in a  final match, marking their second T20 World Cup win (the first being in 2012). In the final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, England set a target of 156 runs, with Joe Root’s 54 runs leading the way. Despite a shaky start, the West Indies, led by Marlon Samuels’ unbeaten 85 runs, clinched victory in the final over with Carlos Brathwaite hitting four consecutive sixes. The match showcased the resilience and explosive drama of T20 cricket.

The West Indies’ path to the final featured consistent performances, with Andre Russell and Samuel Badree leading the bowling, and Johnson Charles as the top run-scorer with 155 runs. Needing 19 off the last over against England, Carlos Brathwaite clubbed four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes, as West Indies clinched their second World Twenty20 title in scarcely-believable fashion at Eden Gardens. England also performed strongly throughout the tournament, with Joe Root scoring 249 runs and David Willey taking 10 wickets.

Sixteen teams participated in the 2016 T20 World Cup, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, and Hong Kong. Each team had unique strategies and strengths. 

2021 (Triumphant Victory)

Host: Oman and United Arab Emirates

Final: Australia vs New Zealand

Winner: Australia – by 8 wickets

Teams: 16

Player of the tournament: David Warner

The final match of the 2021 T20 World Cup took place on November 14, 2021, between Australia and New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium. Australia claimed their first T20 World Cup title, winning by eight wickets with seven balls remaining.

New Zealand batted first, setting a target of 173 runs. Captain Kane Williamson scored a superb 85 off 48 balls. Australia’s bowling, led by Josh Hazlewood’s 3 wickets for 16 runs, kept New Zealand to a manageable total.

Australia’s openers gave a solid start, but it was Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 77 off 50 balls that drove them to victory. David Warner, scoring 53 runs, was named “Player of the Tournament” for his performances throughout the series.

Australia’s journey to the final was marked by key contributions from Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, and Adam Zampa. New Zealand also fought hard, with standout performances from Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, and Jimmy Neesham, and strong bowling from Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

The 2021 T20 World Cup featured 16 teams, including Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Namibia, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Oman.

2022 (The Three Lions’ victory)

Host: Australia

Final: England vs Pakistan

Winner: England – by 5 wickets

Teams: 16

Player of the tournament: Sam Curran

The 2022 T20 World Cup concluded with a thrilling final between England and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13th. Chasing 138, England won by 5 wickets with 6 balls to spare. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s batting struggled against England’s disciplined bowling, with Shan Masood being the top scorer (38 runs). Sam Curran, the Player of the Match and Tournament, excelled for England, capturing 3 wickets for just 12 runs.

Throughout the tournament, England’s aggressive batting, led by Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan, and a balanced bowling attack from Curran, Adil Rashid, and Chris Woakes, stood out, although they sometimes struggled with bowling lengths and early wickets.

Pakistan had a strong bowling unit with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf posing challenges to opponents. Their batting relied on the consistent opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, but the middle order’s fragility and fielding lapses were weaknesses.

This win marked England’s second T20 World Cup title, confirming their dominance in the shortest format. While Pakistan fell short, their journey to the final was commendable. Sam Curran’s outstanding performance solidified his status as a future star, while Afridi’s injury was a turning point in the final.

2024 (Coming soon)

The 2024 T20 World Cup is almost here! Starting on June 1st, the West Indies and USA will host 20 cricket teams.  In order that, The teams are divided into groups, and each group is packed with awesome players.

Significantly, The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to be an exciting tournament with 20 teams divided into four groups of five. Here’s a breakdown of the groups:

• Group A: India, Pakistan, USA (co-host), Ireland, Canada
• Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman
• Group C: West Indies (co-host), New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea
• Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal

The tournament kicks off on June 1st, 2024. The group stage will see each team play four matches against the other teams in their group. The top two teams from each group will then progress to the Super Eight stage, where they will be further divided into two groups of four. The winners of each Super Eight group will then play in the semi-finals, with the winners progressing to the final on June 29th.

Conclusion

The T20 World Cups from 2007 to 2022 have been a series of exhilarating cricket tournaments. History of the ICC T20 World Cup showcasing the best skills, strategies, and thrilling moments of the sport. Hence, The 2007 edition in South Africa witnessed an intense final between India and Pakistan, with India emerging as champions. Similarly, In the history of the ICC T20 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over against England became historic. Furthermore, Pakistan’s victory in 2009 was driven by strategic play and Shahid Afridi’s exceptional performances. England’s triumph in 2010 highlighted their strategic gameplay and the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.

The 2012 edition in Sri Lanka saw the West Indies’ resurgence, culminating in a remarkable victory over Sri Lanka in the final. Also, The 2014 and 2016 tournaments provided exciting matches, with India and the West Indies winning the respective finals in thrilling fashion. The 2021 edition delivered surprises, stellar performances, and an unforgettable final match. Lastly, In 2022, England secured their second T20 World Cup title with a convincing win over Pakistan, propelled by Sam Curran’s exceptional bowling. These tournaments have exemplified the dynamic nature of T20 cricket, highlighting the strategic brilliance and skill required to succeed in this format of the game. Whereas, 2024 T20 World Cup exciting matches and fierce competition await as cricket fans anticipate the start of the tournament on June 1st, hosted by the West Indies and USA.

FAQs

Q. Which country won the first T20 World Cup in 2007?

The first T20 World Cup was won by India in 2007. 

Q. Which country has won the T20 World Cup title the most number of times?

The West Indies and England have both won the T20 World Cup title twice</span>.

Q. Who broke Shahid Afridi’s record for the most wickets in the History of the ICC T20 World Cup in the 2021 edition?

Shakib Al Hasan broke Shahid Afridi’s record for the most wickets in T20 World Cup history in the 2021 edition.

Q. Who won the T20 World Cup in 2022?

England won the T20 World Cup in 2022 by defeating Pakistan in the final.

Q. Which team holds the record for the highest team total scored in a History of the ICC T20 World Cup?

Sri Lanka holds the record for the highest team total scored in the T20 World Cup, with 260 runs against Kenya in 2007.

Q. Who was the captain of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 T20 World Cup?

The captain of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 T20 World Cup against Sri lanka was Younis Khan.

Q. Who will co-host the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup?

The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 1 to June 29, 2024.

Q. How many teams will participate in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup?

A record number of 20 teams will participate in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.