The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, formerly the ICC World Twenty20, is a biennial world cup for cricket in Twenty20 International (T20I) format, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was held in every odd year from 2007 to 2009, and since 2010 has been held in every even year with the exception of 2018 and 2020. In 2018, the tournament was rebranded from the World Twenty20 to the Men’s T20 World Cup.
The 2011 edition of the tournament was brought forward to 2010 to replace the ICC Champions Trophy. In May 2016, the ICC put forward the idea of having a tournament in 2018, with South Africa being the possible host country, but later dropped the idea due to multiple bilateral series taking place that year. The 2020 edition of the tournament was scheduled to take place in Australia but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed until 2021, with the intended host changed to India. The 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup was later relocated to the United Arab Emirates and Oman due to problems relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, taking place five years after the previous (2016) edition.
As of 2026, ten editions have been played; a total of 25 teams have competed and six teams have won the T20 World Cup. India (2007, 2024, 2026) are the most successful team with three titles. West Indies (2012, 2016) and England (2010, 2022) have won it twice, while Pakistan (2009), Sri Lanka (2014), and Australia (2021) have one title each. A total of 15 countries have hosted the tournament (including 6 island nations of the West Indies). India are the current champions, having won their third title in the 2026 edition. The next edition of the tournament will take place in Australia and New Zealand in 2028.
History
Main article: History of the Men’s T20 World Cup
Background
When the Benson & Hedges Cup ended in 2002, the England and Wales Cricket Board sought another one-day competition to appeal to the younger generation in response to dwindling crowds and reduced sponsorship. The Board wanted to deliver fast-paced, exciting cricket accessible to fans who were put off by the longer versions of the game.[1] Stuart Robertson, the marketing manager of the ECB, proposed a 20-over per innings game to county chairmen in 2001, and they voted 11–7 in favour of adopting the new format.[2] The first official Twenty20 matches were played on 13 June 2003 between the English counties in the T20 Blast‘s inaugural edition.[3] The first season of Twenty20 in England was a relative success, with Surrey defeating Warwickshire by 9 wickets in the final to claim the title.[4] The first Twenty20 match held at Lord’s, on 15 July 2004 between Middlesex and Surrey, attracted a crowd of 26,500, the largest attendance for any county cricket game at the ground since 1953.[5] On 17 February 2005, Australia defeated New Zealand in the first men’s full international Twenty20 match, played at Eden Park in Auckland.[6]
Initial years (2007–2012)
Main articles: 2007 World Twenty20, 2009 World Twenty20, 2010 World Twenty20, and 2012 World Twenty20
The first tournament was in 2007 in South Africa where India defeated Pakistan in the final.[7] In December 2007 it was decided to hold a qualifying tournament with a 20-over format to better prepare the teams.[8] The 2009 tournament in England was won by Pakistan who defeated Sri Lanka in the final.[9] The third tournament, was brought forward to 2010 from 2011 to replace the ICC Champions Trophy. This scheduling bottleneck was caused after the 5th edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in 2008, was delayed and shifted to South Africa in 2009 due to security concerns. The Champions Trophy was converted into a quadrennial tournament after that.[10] The third World Twenty20 was held in the West Indies in May 2010, where England defeated Australia by 7 wickets in the final.[11] The 2012 tournament in Sri Lanka was won by the West Indies, by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.[12]
Expansion to 16 teams (2014–2016)
Main articles: 2014 World Twenty20 and 2016 World Twenty20
The 2012 edition was to be expanded into a 16-team format, however this was reverted to 12.[13] The 2014 tournament in Bangladesh, was the first to feature 16 teams[14] including all ten full members and six associate members who qualified through the 2013 Qualifier.[15] Sri Lanka won the 2014 tournament after defeating India in the final.[16] The 2016 tournament in India was won by West Indies, who became the first team to win two T20 World Cups after defeating England in the final.[17][18]