After the larger than life response received for the Cricket World Cup that began in 1975, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to spice up the game further by adding more excitement.
The idea of organizing ICC World Twenty 20 thus came into form. The international championship started in the year 2007 and ten tournaments have been held since then. The tournament ran with 16 teams for its early editions and expanded to 20 from 2024.
T20 Cricket World Cup Winners List (2007 to 2026)
The championship is usually held every two years. The 2020 edition, which Australia was due to host, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Australia staged its tournament in 2022 instead.
That is why five years separate the 2016 and 2021 tournaments, and why the 2021 edition was played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman rather than in India, which held the hosting rights.
Here is a list of ICC World T20 Cricket World Cup winners of all seasons.
Quick answer: India are the reigning men’s T20 World Cup champions. They beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 8 March 2026, defending the title they won in 2024. India are the only side to have won the tournament three times.
| Year | Host | Winner | Runner-Up | Final Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | South Africa | India | Pakistan | India won by 5 runs |
| 2009 | England | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Pakistan won by 8 wickets |
| 2010 | West Indies | England | Australia | England won by 7 wickets |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | West Indies | Sri Lanka | West Indies won by 36 runs |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| 2016 | India | West Indies | England | West Indies won by 4 wickets |
| 2021 | UAE and Oman | Australia | New Zealand | Australia won by 8 wickets |
| 2022 | Australia | England | Pakistan | England won by 5 wickets |
| 2024 | West Indies and USA | India | South Africa | India won by 7 runs |
| 2026 | India and Sri Lanka | India | New Zealand | India won by 96 runs |
ICC T20 World Cup 2007
South Africa was the first to host the ICC World Twenty20. The final match was extremely interesting as it was played between India and Pakistan. The teams gave a tough competition to each other.
India made 157 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Pakistan chased the target with great energy but could only reach 152. The team was all out in 19.4 overs. India won by 5 runs. With this, it became the first country to take home the ICC World Twenty20 trophy.
The Indian team played under the captainship of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Yuvraj Singh played extremely well throughout the series. He was rightly awarded the player of the series title.
- Host: South Africa
- Winner: India
- Final Venue: Johannesburg
- Runner-up: Pakistan
- Result: India won by 5 runs.
ICC T20 World Cup 2009
England welcomed the teams to play ICC World Twenty20 in its home ground in 2009. Pakistan yet again entered the finals. This time it took on Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka batted first and gave a target of 136 runs.
It scored the same in 20 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Pakistan played amazingly well scoring many boundaries. It chased the score in 18.4 overs. The team made a score of 139 runs at the loss of 2 wickets. It was a great win. Pakistan proudly took the trophy home.
The winning team played under the captainship of Younis Khan. Sri Lankan cricketer, Tillakaratne Dilshan was declared the player of the series. He also scored the highest runs in the series.
- Host: England
- Winner: Pakistan
- Final Venue: London
- Runner-up: Sri Lanka
- Result: Pakistan won by 8 wickets.
ICC T20 World Cup 2010
The third ICC World Twenty20 was held in West Indies. This time Australia and England entered the finals. There was a lot of hope from the Australian team given their consistently amazing performance in the 50 overs World Cup match. It managed to score 147 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs.
England easily chased the score. It made 148 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in just 17 overs. England took home the trophy beating Australia by 7 wickets.
Kevin Pietersen from the England team was declared the player of the series. Sri Lankan cricketer, Mahela Jayawardene scored the highest number of runs during the tournament while Dirk Nannes from Australia took the maximum number of wickets.
- Host: West Indies
- Winner: England
- Final Venue: Bridgetown
- Runner-up: Australia
- Result: England won by 7 wickets.
ICC T20 World Cup 2012
Sri Lanka hosted ICC world Twenty20 in the year 2012. West Indies and Sri Lanka reached the finals. West Indies batted first. It gave a target of 137 to the Sri Lankan team. It made this score at the loss of 6 wickets. Sri Lanka lost badly. It only managed to score 101 runs. The team was all out in 18.4 overs. West Indies won by 36 runs.
Australian cricketer, Shane Watson received the player of the series title. He also scored the highest number of runs in the tournament. Ajantha Mendis from Sri Lanka took the highest number of wickets during the series.
- Host: Sri Lanka
- Winner: West Indies
- Final Venue: Colombo
- Runner-up: Sri Lanka
- Result: West Indies won by 36 runs.
ICC T20 World Cup 2014
The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 was hosted by Bangladesh. Sri Lanka and India entered the finals in this tournament. While Sri Lanka entered the finals for the third time, it was the second time for India. However, while India had won the trophy once Sri Lanka had never emerged winner in T20 World Cup.
The game was interesting and entailed a lot of speculation. India batted first and gave a target of 130 runs. It scored the same at the loss of 4 wickets. Sri Lanka quickly chased the given target. It won in 17.5 overs hitting a boundary at the end. The team won by 6 wickets.
Virat Kohli from the Indian cricket team received the title of the player of the series. He scored the highest runs during the tournament.
- Host: Bangladesh
- Winner: Sri Lanka
- Final Venue: Dhaka
- Runner-up: India
- Result: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets.
ICC T20 World Cup 2016
India got the privilege to host the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 tournament. West Indies and England entered the finals. England batted first. It made a score of 155 runs at the loss of 9 wickets.
West Indies chased the target smoothly. It managed a glorious win in 19.4 overs hitting a six at the end. It won by 4 wickets. West Indies is the only team to have won the ICC T20 World Cup twice.
Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli was again named the player of the series in 2016.
- Host: India
- Winner: West Indies
- Final Venue: Kolkata
- Runner-up: England
- Result: West Indies won by 4 wickets.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021
The 2021 tournament was awarded to India, but it was moved to the United Arab Emirates and Oman because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Indian board still acting as host. Australia won it, their first men’s T20 World Cup.
In the final at Dubai on 14 November 2021, New Zealand made 172 for 4 and Australia chased it down with an over to spare, finishing on 173 for 2 to win by eight wickets. Mitchell Marsh made 77 not out, and David Warner was named player of the tournament.
ICC T20 World Cup 2022
Australia finally staged its tournament in 2022, two years after the edition it had been due to host. England won it at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 13 November 2022, beating Pakistan by five wickets after restricting them to 137 for 8.
Sam Curran was named player of the match and player of the tournament. The win meant England held the 50-over World Cup, won in 2019, and the T20 World Cup at the same time, the first men’s side to manage it.
ICC T20 World Cup 2024
The 2024 tournament was the first with 20 teams, and the first co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States. India won it in Barbados on 29 June 2024, beating South Africa by seven runs in a final South Africa had looked set to win.
India made 176 for 7, Virat Kohli top-scoring with 76, and South Africa finished on 169 for 8. Jasprit Bumrah was player of the tournament. It was India’s first T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition in 2007, and they went through the tournament unbeaten.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026
India and Sri Lanka co-hosted the 2026 tournament, and India won it at home. The final was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 8 March 2026, and India won by 96 runs, the largest margin in any men’s T20 World Cup final.
India posted 255 for 5, the highest total made in a final of the tournament, with Sanju Samson scoring 89. New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in reply. Jasprit Bumrah took 4 for 15 and was named player of the match.
The win made India the first team to win three men’s T20 World Cups, the first to successfully defend the title, and the first host nation to win it.
T20 World Cup Titles by Team
| Team | Titles | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|
| India | 3 | 2007, 2024, 2026 |
| England | 2 | 2010, 2022 |
| West Indies | 2 | 2012, 2016 |
| Pakistan | 1 | 2009 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 2014 |
| Australia | 1 | 2021 |
T20 World Cup Records and Facts
- Most titles: India, with three. They are also the only team to have successfully defended the trophy, winning in 2024 and again in 2026.
- First host nation to win it: India, in 2026. No home side had won the men’s tournament before.
- There was no 2020 tournament. Australia was due to host it, but it was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia staged its tournament in 2022 instead.
- The 2021 edition was played away from its host: India held the hosting rights but the tournament was moved to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, again because of the pandemic.
- Biggest final: India’s 255 for 5 in 2026 is the highest total made in a men’s T20 World Cup final, and the 96-run margin is the largest.
- Closest finals: the 2007 final was decided by 5 runs and the 2024 final by 7 runs, both won by India.
- Holding both world titles at once: England won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, the first men’s side to hold them together.
- The field grew: the tournament expanded to 20 teams from 2024, having run with 16 for the previous editions.
For the 50-over tournament see our Cricket World Cup winners list, and for the domestic T20 game see the IPL winners list.
T20 World Cup Winners: Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the T20 World Cup in 2026?
India won the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, beating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 8 March 2026. India made 255 for 5 and bowled New Zealand out for 159. Jasprit Bumrah took 4 for 15 and was named player of the match.
Which country has won the most T20 World Cups?
India, with three titles, won in 2007, 2024 and 2026. England and the West Indies have two each, and Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia have one apiece.
Was there a T20 World Cup in 2020?
No. The 2020 tournament was due to be held in Australia but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia went on to host the 2022 edition instead, and no tournament was played in 2020.
Where was the 2021 T20 World Cup played?
In the United Arab Emirates and Oman. India held the hosting rights but the tournament was relocated because of the pandemic, with the Indian board remaining the official host. Australia won it.
Has any team defended the T20 World Cup?
Yes, India. They won in 2024 in Barbados and retained the trophy at home in 2026, the only side to have won back-to-back men’s T20 World Cups.
What is the highest score in a T20 World Cup final?
India’s 255 for 5 against New Zealand in the 2026 final. Before that no team had passed 180 in a final of the tournament.
How many teams play in the T20 World Cup?
Twenty. The tournament expanded from 16 teams to 20 for the 2024 edition co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States, and stayed at 20 in 2026.
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T20 World Cup is extremely interesting and engrossing, isn’t it? Do you enjoy it more than the 50 overs matches? Are you eagerly waiting for the next ICC T20 World Cup? The next edition is due in 2028.
