SportsMaze

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Cricket · International Cricket Council (ICC)

Also called: ICC World Twenty20 (the name of the early editions)

2026HolderIndia (2026, beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at Ahmedabad)

The Men's T20 World Cup is the world championship of 20-over cricket for men's national teams. It was first played in South Africa in 2007 with 12 teams. India won it.

Next
Australia and New Zealand, 21 October to 19 November 2028; 20 teams
Most titles
India, 3 (2007, 2024, 2026)
India
3 titles; 4 finals (2007, 2014, 2024, 2026)
Cycle
About every two years; none between 2016 and 2021

Editions

India on the podium

Show a country

  1. 2028to be playedHosts: Australia, New Zealand
    Final, date and venue
    19 November, Melbourne Cricket Ground
    Teams
    20
  2. 2026India 255/5 (20)Result of the final: India won by 96 runs · Runners-up: New Zealand 159 (19) · Hosts: India, Sri Lanka
    Final, date and venue
    8 March, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
    Teams
    20
  3. 2024India 176/7 (20)Result of the final: India won by 7 runs · Runners-up: South Africa 169/8 (20) · Hosts: West Indies, United States
    Final, date and venue
    29 June, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
    Teams
    20
  4. 2022England 138/5 (19)Result of the final: England won by 5 wickets · Runners-up: Pakistan 137/8 (20) · Hosts: Australia
    Final, date and venue
    13 November, Melbourne Cricket Ground
    Teams
    16
  5. 2021Australia 173/2 (18.5)Result of the final: Australia won by 8 wickets · Runners-up: New Zealand 172/4 (20) · Hosts: United Arab Emirates, Oman (hosted by India's board)
    Final, date and venue
    14 November, Dubai International Cricket Stadium
    Teams
    16
  6. 2016West Indies 161/6 (19.4)Result of the final: West Indies won by 4 wickets · Runners-up: England 155/9 (20) · Hosts: India
    Final, date and venue
    3 April, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
    Teams
    16
  7. 2014Sri Lanka 134/4 (17.5)Result of the final: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets · Runners-up: India 130/4 (20) · Hosts: Bangladesh
    Final, date and venue
    6 April, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
    Teams
    16
  8. 2012West Indies 137/6 (20)Result of the final: West Indies won by 36 runs · Runners-up: Sri Lanka 101 (18.4) · Hosts: Sri Lanka
    Final, date and venue
    7 October, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
    Teams
    12
  9. 2010England 148/3 (17)Result of the final: England won by 7 wickets · Runners-up: Australia 147/6 (20) · Hosts: West Indies
    Final, date and venue
    16 May, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
    Teams
    12
  10. 2009Pakistan 139/2 (18.4)Result of the final: Pakistan won by 8 wickets · Runners-up: Sri Lanka 138/6 (20) · Hosts: England
    Final, date and venue
    21 June, Lord's, London
    Teams
    12
  11. 2007India 157/5 (20)Result of the final: India won by 5 runs · Runners-up: Pakistan 152 (19.4) · Hosts: South Africa
    Final, date and venue
    24 September, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
    Teams
    12

What the checks confirm. The ICC pages name every winner from 2007 to 2024 and the runner-up for 2007, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024. Sri Lanka as the losing finalist of 2009 and 2012 follows from "beaten finalists Sri Lanka made it third time lucky in 2014". The ICC states the margin for 2016 (four wickets) and 2024 (seven runs); for 2007 it says Pakistan needed six runs from four balls when the last wicket fell, which agrees with a 5-run win. Final venues stated by the ICC: Johannesburg (2007), Lord's (2009), Colombo (2012) and Kolkata (2016). 2026 is from Al Jazeera: 255/5, 159 all out, 96 runs, Ahmedabad.

India at the T20 World Cup

India has played all 10 editions. It won the first, in 2007, against Pakistan; lost the 2014 final to Sri Lanka; and won in 2024 and again at home in 2026, the first team to win the title three times and the first to win it at home. Suryakumar Yadav captained the 2026 side.

YearIndia's finish
2007Champions
2009Second round (Super 8)
2010Second round (Super 8)
2012Second round (Super 8)
2014Runners-up
2016Semi-finals (hosts)
2021Second round (Super 12; India's board hosted the event in the UAE and Oman)
2022Semi-finals
2024Champions
2026Champions (co-hosts)

More about this tournament

Successful teams
TeamTitlesRunners-up
India3 (2007, 2024, 2026)1 (2014)
England2 (2010, 2022)1 (2016)
West Indies2 (2012, 2016)0
Sri Lanka1 (2014)2 (2009, 2012)
Pakistan1 (2009)2 (2007, 2022)
Australia1 (2021)1 (2010)
New Zealand02 (2021, 2026)
South Africa01 (2024)
History

How it began

Twenty-over cricket was first played professionally in English county cricket in 2003. The first T20 World Cup followed in 2007 in South Africa. Chris Gayle hit the first T20 International century in its opening match, Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over from Stuart Broad, and India beat Pakistan in the final.

How the format changed

From 2007 to 2012, 12 teams played four groups of three, a Super 8 stage and semi-finals. In 2014 and 2016, 16 teams played a first round and a Super 10, and in 2021 and 2022 a first round and a Super 12. In 2024 the field grew to 20 teams, with the United States, Canada and Uganda making their debuts, in four groups of five and a Super 8. The 2028 edition is listed with five groups of four, a Super 10 and a six-team knockout.

Champions by era

Five different teams won the first five titles. The West Indies became the first to win twice, in 2016, with Carlos Brathwaite's four sixes in a row off Ben Stokes in the last over. Australia won its first title in 2021 and England its second in 2022. India then won in 2024 and 2026, the first side to defend the title.

Firsts and facts
  • First edition: 2007, South Africa, 12 teams; first champions: India.
  • First T20 International century: Chris Gayle, 117, in the opening match of 2007.
  • First team to win twice: the West Indies, 2016.
  • First 20-team edition, and the first ICC World Cup with matches in the United States: 2024.
  • First team to win three titles, to retain the title and to win at home: India, 2026.