ICC World Twenty20: A brief history (2007-2014)
Here, TOI Sports takes a look at what transpired in the previous editions of the tournament.
2007 (in South Africa)
Winner: India
Runner-up: Pakistan
Top run-getter: Matthew Hayden - 265 runs
Top wicket-taker: Umar Gul - 13 wickets
Player of the Tournament: Shahid Afridi
The inaugural edition of the World Twenty20, hosted by South Africa, was an overwhelming success with its deadly mixture of cheerleaders, flamboyant commentary and fireworks encircling action-packed three hours of slam-bang cricket in roaring full-house stadiums. Chris Gayle provided a blockbuster opening to the event, slamming 117 off 57 deliveries in a high scoring clash against South Africa. Yuvraj Singh of India then etched his name in cricketing folklore, hitting England's Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over en route to a record 12-ball half-century. Zimbabwe created history, stunning Australia in a Group B match. Brett Lee became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in T20Is.
The final of the tournament between old rivals India and Pakistan was straight out of a Hollywood thriller. It was a rematch as the two teams had earlier met in the league stage that, obviously, culminated into a thrilling bowl-out which India won. The summit clash went to the last over with Pakistan needing 13 off six. Misbah-ul-Haq held his nerve to dismiss a full toss from Joginder Sharma for a six but off the third delivery, his scoop was caught by Sreesanth at short fine-leg. India completed a five-run win to become the first ever WorldT20 champions.
2009 (in England)
Winner: Pakistan
Runner-up: Sri Lanka
Top run-getter: Tillakaratne Dilshan - 317 runs
Top wicket-taker: Umar Gul - 13 wickets
Player of the Tournament: Tillakaratne Dilshan
A 16-day affair, the second edition was off to another thrilling start as Netherlands's Tom de Grooth, Peter Borren and Ryan ten Doeschate combined to hand hosts England a humbling defeat in a last-ball finish. It was just a sign of things to come as the event turned out to be a bloodbath of sorts for the favourites. Australia crashed out in the first round; defending champions India made it to the Super 8s but then booked an early ticket home after failing to register a single win in the stage. Pakistan, who tripped at the final hurdle in Johannesburg, came up trumps against the top two unbeaten teams of the event on way to their maiden title. In the semi-final, they brushed off South Africa's threat, thanks to Shahid Afridi's all-round show as he scored 51 and then took 2/16 to clear the way for Pakistan's second successive WT20 final. At Lord's, Afridi was at his best again, bowling an economical four overs to hold Sri Lanka to 138/6 and then stringing another half-century to guide Pakistan's chase and take the trophy home.
2010 (in West Indies)
Winner: England
Runner-up: Australia
Top run-getter: Mahela Jayawardene - 302 runs
Top wicket-taker: Dirk Nannes - 14 wickets
Player of the Tournament: Kevin Pietersen
They say cricket is a funny game. And then the ICC took it to another level when West Indies hosted the third edition of the World T20 just 11 months after the event concluded in England. That meant Pakistan had to fight for the title, again, without even getting a chance to sit on the throne as the world champions for even a year. The tournament turned out to be a success though and the theme of unpredictability continued.
Unlike the previous tournament where Australia were handed a shocking first round exit, this time they made it to the final where they were up against their famed Ashes rival England. Similar to the previous edition, India made it the Super 8s round only to crash out of it winless. This was after Suresh Raina became the first Indian batsman and third overall to record a T20I century. Before the decider, Australia edged ahead of Pakistan in a nerve shredding semi-final showdown. Australia needed 18 runs from the final over and Michael Hussey clouted 20 runs off Saeed Ajmal to shred Pakistan's hopes. There were no such pyrotechnics involved in the final as England, riding on a 111-run alliance between Craig Kieswetter (63) and Kevin Pietersen (47), sauntered to their first ever ICC global title.
2012 (in Sri Lanka)
Winner: West Indies
Runner-up: Sri Lanka
Top run-getter: Shane Watson - 249 runs
Top wicket-taker: Ajantha Mendis - 15 wickets
Player of the Tournament: Shane Watson
Sri Lanka made it to their second straight final of an ICC event in just over a year. After losing to India in the 50-over World Cup final in Mumbai in 2011, Sri Lanka had a chance at redemption against West Indies in the WT20 title clash in front of home crowd. However, the hosts had to endure the heartbreak of yet another title defeat as they finished second best to a swashbuckling West Indies team that won its first major ICC event after the 2004 Champions Trophy in England.
Marlon Samuels scored a 56-ball 78 in West Indies' total of 137 and then partnered with Sunil Narine (3/9) to bowl Sri Lanka out for 101. In all, West Indies won four out their seven games, losing two with one being washed out. There were no major surprises in the group stage. Although in the Super 8s round, New Zealand were part of two tied matches which were decided via a one-over Eliminator - they lost both, one each to Sri Lanka and West Indies. India continued their stranglehold over Pakistan in World Cups, posting yet another win - their first in Super 8s since 2007.
2014 (in Bangladesh)
Winner: Sri Lanka
Runner-up: India
Top run-getter: Virat Kohli - 319 runs
Top wicket-taker: Imran Tahir - 12 wickets
Player of the Tournament: Virat Kohli
Sixteen teams participated in the event and a qualifying round was introduced ahead of the tournament proper. Two teams were to be short-listed to join the other eight full members (top eight in the T20I rankings) in the main draw where they were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Netherlands while Group 2 had India, West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh.
Netherlands conjured a memorable performance defeating Ireland to make the cut for the Super 10s. In a breathtaking chase where they needed 190 in 14.2 overs to qualify on the basis of better net run-rate, the Dutch achieved the target in 13.5 overs leaving the cricketing world open-mouthed. They came crashing down from those dizzying heights soon after as they were bowled out for 39 vs Sri Lanka - the lowest ever T20I total.
Nepal and Hong Kong impressed as well getting the better of Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, the tournament was a redemption song for Sri Lanka who had developed the habit of losing in World Cup finals. They defeated an unbeaten India in the decider to give a fitting farewell to their most prolific batting duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene as both had announced their retirements from the format ahead of the event. Sri Lanka also managed to take revenge against West Indies whom they lost to in the final at home in 2012, defeating them via D/L in the first semi-final in Mirpur.
