The attention that the sixth Twenty20 World Championship is commanding is a testament to how far the T20 format has come since it was introduced by the ICC amid strong protests from Test players and fans. The Twenty20 format has weathered many a storm and has won the hearts of cricket lovers, much like its elder cousin, the one-dayer.
Twenty20 is the shortest format of cricket yet, quite fittingly, the gap between the world championships is only two years. However, the next world cup in Australia will be only after four years. The ICC has accorded international status to all Twenty20 matches.
The first tournament, held in South Africa in 2007, saw India lift the cup defeating arch rival Pakistan. As the tournament comes to India this year, no team has won the event twice.
The victorious teams are
2007: India
2009: Pakistan
2010: England
2012: West Indies
2014: Sri Lanka
2007
Twelve teams took part in the 13-day tournament held in South Africa between September 11 and 24 — the 10 Test-playing nations, plus Kenya and Scotland.
India, led by M.S. Dhoni, defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the finals by 5 runs. India defeated Australia to reach the finals while Pakistan beat New Zealand in the other semi-finals.
This championship lived true to T20’s guiding principle: blistering pace. Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over by England’s Stuart Broad, and also scored the fastest 50, off just 12 deliveries.
Chris Gayle became the first person to hit a century in an official Twenty20 International against South Africa. He also scored the most sixes in one innings of Twenty20 with 10.
Another highlight was the tied India and Pakistan match in the league stage, on September 14. It was decided in India’s favour with a bowl-out.
> All teams fancy their chances
The shortest version presents a curious challenge for the men involved. There has been little talk of favourites.
> England succumbs to Yuvraj
Yuvraj hits six sixes in an over. England did a good job of chasing, but still found itself 18 runs short.
> Spirited India must continue to dare
Dhoni, a natural leader, has been able to coax fine performances from his players.
> India wins World Twenty20 thriller
Misbah’s heroics bring Pakistan within six runs of victory in inaugural ICC championship.
2009
The second ICC Cricket T20 championship was held in England between June 5 and 21, 2009.
The defending champions were the firm favourites as India had earlier defeated the mighty Australians in Australia in the tri-series for the first time. Dhoni and his men arrived in England with their heads high.
Unfortunately, India lost all their super-8 matches and placed last in their group.
South Africa and Pakistan faced off in one semi-final while Sri Lanka played West Indies in the other. During the course of the tournament, Umar Gul became the first bowler to take five wickets in a Twenty20 International.
The sub-continental giants prevailed in the semifinals and clashed in the title match.
Pakistan, the 2007 runners-up, defeated Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the final at Lords on June 21, 2009.
> Bravo stars for West Indies
Dwayne Bravo played a match-winning knock that made wonderful viewing in a very classical sense.
> Pak shows South Africa the door
The mercurial Shahid Afridi led the way, showing his skills with bat and ball in the shortest format.
> Clash of the sub-continental titans
In a format designed for the booming blows, two sides with incisive and varied attacks will face in the finals.
> Afridi inspires Pak to victory
Sri Lankans fail to deliver when it mattered most; Kumar Sangakkara’s gritty effort goes in vain.
2010
This year the Twenty20 Championship was held in West Indies between April 30 and May 16.
Once again, millions of Indian fans expected their team to qualify for the last four. India indeed performed well in the group stage by defeating South Africa riding on a brilliant century from Suresh Raina. Suresh Raina became the third man, the second in an ICC World Twenty20 and the first Indian to hit a century in a Twenty20 International.
Team India, once again, fared badly in the super 8s by losing all their matches and failed to make it to the last four.
England and Sri Lanka clashed in the first semifinal while Australia faced Pakistan in the second one.
The Ashes contestants prevailed.
Everyone expected Australia to lift their first Twenty20 championship, but England had other thoughts. They defeated Australia by seven wickets and lifted their first trophy in an ICC sponsored event.
> Raina shines in India win
With its total soaring to 186 for five, India held all the aces when South Africa pursued on a sluggish surface.
> England saunters into the final
After openers gave a blazing start, Pietersen waded into the Sri Lankan attack with a 26-ball 42.
> Hussey puts Australia in final
Hussey powered Australia to a sensational three-wicket win over Pakistan in the second semifinal.
> Finally it is England
England hadn’t a single World Cup victory; trips to the final in 1979, 1987 and 1992 was the closest it came.
2012
The championship moved to the subcontinent for the first time. It was played in Sri Lanka between September 18 and October 7.
India dominated the group stage against defending champions England and Afghanistan, and entered the super-8 in style.
This time around, India performed well in the super-8 stages winning two of their matches but could not make the final four. The group consisted of Australia, Pakistan, India and South Africa. South Africa was defeated in all the three matches. India, Australia and Pakistan finished with four points each. Australia and Pakistan entered the semifinals owing to the higher net run-rate. From the other group, Sri Lanka and West Indies made it to the semifinals.
Sri Lanka defeated their sub-continent rivals Pakistan while West Indies surprised many by defeating Australia.
This was Sri Lanka’s fourth final in an ICC Event in five years and also the second consecutive final. For West Indies, this was the first final in an ICC tournament after the 2006 Champions Trophy and also the first after the 1983 World Cup in any type of ICC world championship. Also for the first time, a host nation (Sri Lanka) was playing in the final of the ICC World Twenty20.
West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs on October 7, 2012 and won the Twenty20 championship for the first time. This was the first major ICC title for West Indies after their victory in the Prudential World Cup 1979.
> Kohli steers India to a crucial win
India turned on the heat against its arch-rival and declared ownership rights.
> ka just a step away from glory
Sri Lanka are through to their second consecutive World T20 final by defeating Pakistan.
> West Indies storms into final
Gayle & Co. bat with gay abandon to post a huge score; Australia caves in without a fight.
> It’s Calypso time in Colombo
West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 final.
2014
In 2014, the ICC Twenty20 championship was held once again in a sub-continent country, Bangladesh, between March 16 and April 6. For the first time, the tournament featured 16 teams.
After the qualifying rounds, there were two groups totalling 10 teams. Group 1 consisted of Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Netherlands. Group 2 consisted of India, West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh.
India defeated all group mates convincingly and sailed through to the semifinal stage along with West Indies. Sri Lanka and South Africa entered the semifinals from their group.
In the semifinals, India defeated South Africa by six wickets while Sri Lanka prevailed over West Indies by 26 runs (D/L method).
India and Sri Lanka met for the summit clash on April 6, 2014 in Mirpur. It was the last match for Sri Lankan giants Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Indeed, it turned out to be a perfect finish for Sangakkara and Jayawardene as Sri Lanka defeated India by six wickets.
> India makes it a no-contest, begins in style
After the spinners restrict Pakistan, batsmen ensure victory with nine balls to spare.
> Sri Lanka makes the final by D-L method
Rain ends contest with West Indies, chasing 161, floundering on 80 for four in 13.5 overs
> Kohli blitz powers India into final
Ashwin, repays captain’s faith in him; du Plessis, Duminy bat well for South Africa
> Sri Lanka finally gets the monkey off its back
Sangakkara serves his country well one last time in the game’s shortest format
2016
For the third time in succession, the Twenty20 championship is to be held in the sub-continent.
India will be hosting the tournament from March 8 to April 3. Seven cities will host matches, with the final to be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. As in the 2014 edition, the 2016 World Twenty20 will feature 16 teams. Ten teams qualified automatically through their status as full members of ICC, while the rest came through the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier.
In Group 1, Sri Lanka, the defending champions, is placed along with South Africa, West Indies, England and a qualifier.
In the group 2, considered to be one of the toughest, India is placed along with New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia and a qualifier.
India will be playing its arch-rivals Pakistan on March 19 at Kolkata.
After having won the series against Australia in Australia (3-0) and Sri Lanka (2-1) in India, millions of fans expect India to dominate this year’s Twenty20 championship, as they will be playing in familiar conditions. India also performed well in the Asia Cup T20 championships.
ICC World T20 championships
Indian perspective
- » India is in Group 2 along with Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and a qualifier
- »Tuesday, March 15, 2016: India versus New Zealand at Nagpur
- »Saturday, March 19, 2016: India versus Pakistan at Dharamsala
- »Wednesday, March 23, 2016: India versus qualifier at Bengaluru
- »Sunday, March 27, 2016: India versus Australia at Mohali
- » India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 under the captainship of M.S. Dhoni.
- » India finished runner-up in 2014 held in Dhaka. Sri Lanka lifted the trophy.
- » The advent of IPL, in which several top foreign players figure, has taken away the home advantage from India which is hosting the ICC World T20 Championship, said Kohli.
- » Ajinkya Rahane said every team should be considered dangerous in the T20 format.
- » Shikhar Dhawan said that the team that gets momentum at the right time would hold an advantage..
- » The ICC World Twenty20 trophy was also showcased at the ceremony before its departure to Scotland on December 13, as part of the Nissan Trophy Tour. The trophy will return to New Delhi on 1 February after visiting 11 countries.
>World T20: Chennai matches not to be broadcast
India will be opening their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand on March 15.
>Schedule of Twenty20 World Cup
India will begin their T20 campaign against New Zealand on March 15 and will face their arch-rivals Pakistan on March 19.
