The T20 World Cup is in the headlines again as the 8th edition of the tournament has begun. England, the defending champions, are poised to face fierce competition from powerhouses like India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, all vying to lift the coveted trophy. Every two years, cricket fans are treated to some of the most thrilling T20 fixtures, featuring the world’s top teams. Players give their all, aiming to justify their selection with stellar performances that create unforgettable moments on the pitch.
But it’s not just the battle for the trophy that makes the tournament so exhilarating. The magical moments crafted by these players—the stunning catches, breathtaking sixes, and nail-biting finishes—are what truly captivate the spectators, turning each match into a spectacle of skill and drama.
In this article, we have compiled some of the most memorable moments in the history of the T20 World Cup, moments that have left an indelible mark on the sport.
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1) Yuvraj Singh vs England – The 6 Sixes Saga
For a long time, Yuvraj Singh remained the poster boy of Team India. It is because of his performance as a 3-dimensional player. He can bat and bowl exceptionally well and can save runs with his quick fielding abilities on the ground. However, his historical 6-sixes against the English legend Stuart Broad – which happened in 2007, is still the talk of the town.
It has been 17 years to this moment but whenever fans talk about Yuvraj Singh, they always mention his ferocious batting against England. This fantastic exhibition by Yuvraj Singh helped India with a major advantage in overall score and achieve a comfortable victory.
2) Marlon Samuels’ Batting in the 2012 Final
Marlon Samuels was one of the primary reasons why West Indies clinched the T20 World Cup 2012 title. West Indies were down to 32/2, and Samuels came to bat. As soon as he made it to the ground, things completely changed for the team. His innings was a masterpiece of controlled aggression.
Samuels targeted every Sri Lankan bowler but Lasith Malinga was his primary target. He smashed six sixes in Malinga’s over, which became a record in a World Cup final at the time. Samuels’ knock of 78 runs from just 56 balls breathed life into the West Indies’ innings. He found boundaries with ease, his unorthodox style keeping the Sri Lankan bowlers guessing.
3) The Tie and Bowl-Out Between India and Pakistan (2007)
India vs Pakistan fixtures are always thrilling in international cricket. Whenever these two teams meet, the clash is expected to be a memorable one. A similar situation occurred during a group stage match between the two teams in the first edition of the tournament.
The fixture ended up as a draw and now the result of the match was to be decided by the bowl-out rule. It was the only time in the history of the T20 World Cup that the bowl-out was used to break the tie between the two teams. India emerged as the winner of the game by 3-0 in the end.
4) Rangana Herath’s 5/3 against New Zealand
Even after having some of the best players in the world, Sri Lanka has been an unfortunate team when it comes to ICC tournaments. They once dominated international cricket but the team has struggled to make an impact in the last decade. Rangana Herath was one of the last Sri Lankan legends who made headlines in the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Batting first against New Zealand, Sri Lanka scored 119 runs and the responsibility was on the bowling unit to win the match. Rangana Herath came to save the team and picked up 5 wickets in his spell by giving away just 3 runs. The Kiwi’s batting lineup fell for just 60 runs and Sri Lanka scored a thrilling victory.
5) Virat Kohli vs Pakistan
Another thrilling fixture that ended up with the rebirth of India’s modern-day batting giant Virat Kohli. With Pakistan batting first, India received a target of 160 runs. The top order of men in blue was decimated earlier than expected except for Virat Kohli. Kohli remained on the ground and gave the winning momentum to the team.
He scored 82 off 53 at a strike rate of 154.72. The memorable two consecutive sixes on the balls of Haris Rauf by Kohi completely changed the game for India and in the end men in blue came out as the winners.
