Since its inception in 2007, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has delivered numerous high-octane moments that have captivated cricket fans all over the world. Unforgettable performances and high drama–it seems that the tournament delivered precisely the elements it was created to provide. Consider below some of the most intense and entertaining moments in T20 history, and keep in mind that this history is only 17 years old!
The first of these moments happened in the very first year when Joginder Sharma became a national hero. India was playing against Pakistan, and needed only 6 runs from the remaining four balls. Sharma dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq, and S Sreesanth made the winning catch, securing India’s first T20 World Cup win. That same year, Yuvraj Singh, spurred by a fiery exchange with England’s Andrew Flintoff, smashed Stuart Broad for six consecutive sixes, leading India to victory over England. This victory was crucial for the team, as it became an important step in securing the tournament.
In 2009, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi had an unbeaten fifty in the final against Sri Lanka, securing Pakistan’s first and last T20 World Cup title at Lord’s. The next year saw the rise of West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite who, with only 19 runs to defend in the last over, hit four consecutive sixes against England’s Ben Stokes, leading the West Indies to a well-earned victory.
Another memorable moment came in 2016, when Indian superstar Virat Kohli made 82 runs despite his position at 31/4, when they were chasing Pakistan’s 160. Virat Kohli’s composure may have shown brighter than the final score board. Later that year, now-veteran MS Dhoni led the team to victory in a tight game with Bangladesh. Bangladesh needed only two runs from the last ball, but Dhoni’s quick thinking made him collect a missed ball and run out the batsman. It was a narrow victory for India, and one of the most entertaining moments in the history of the sport for a nation of cricket fans.
This year, 2024, perhaps the most exhilarating moment did not come from one action that led to victory, when everyone sat at the edge of their seat. Instead, it was a full match that the whole watched completely shocked, as a new team in the mix, made up of engineers and part time cricket players led the USA to victory. The game was knotted at 159 runs, Pakistan could only muster 13 runs, and the USA scored 17. No one saw it coming, as the highest expectation for the USA this year was that it had hosted a game that the nation had hardly made an impact on.
2024 saw India claim its second T20 World Cup title, as it went through the entire tournament unbeaten. That’s some achievement that epitomized how Rohit Sharma has led this team over the last few years and how the various departments in the team were manned by performers who are world-class in their own right. From Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Surya Kumar Yadav to provide the initial batting impetus, to the all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Ravi Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube in the middle, to the final flourish in bowling that came from Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh towards the end, each of the games were stitched and sealed by India through a clinical performance.
It is easy to see why the T20 format would make for such interesting and thrilling moments in the sport. With higher stakes, shorter time and narrower margin for winning, the tournament has become one of the most watched in sports history. Sportsmen from all over the world have proven their skills against the fast clock of the 20 over tournament, and teams from around the globe have risen and fallen with the tides.
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