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Between India’s wins of the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 and the most recent offering in 2024, there have been many iconic performances that have left their mark on T20 cricket’s biggest stage.
With new heroes ready to be cast when the T20 World Cup 2026 commences on February 7, here’s a look back at some standout individual performances from the nine editions already played.
2007 – Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes
At the first-ever ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa, Yuvraj Singh etched his name into cricketing history by smashing six sixes off just one Stuart Broad over.
The left-handed all-rounder became just the fourth player – after Garry Sobers, Ravi Shastri and Herschelle Gibbs – to hit six consecutive sixes, and the first to do so in T20 cricket.
Yuvraj’s exploits not only ensured an imposing India total but also took the then 25-year-old to a 12-ball half-century, the erstwhile fastest 50 in T20Is – a record that would hold firm until 2023.
India went on to win the match before being crowned the inaugural T20 champions thanks to a five-run win over Pakistan in the final.
2009 – Shahid Afridi’s all-round excellence
On the wrong side of the result two years earlier, Shahid Afridi – who was Player of the Tournament in 2007 – returned to the competition in 2009 with a purpose.
In the semi-finals against South Africa, Afridi came to the fore in devastating fashion, starring with a crucial all-round performance that took Pakistan into a second successive final.
He first scored 51 off 34 with the bat, before claiming the key wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers as he returned figures of 2/16, which helped set up the win and put Pakistan on course to eventually lift the trophy.
2010 – Michael Hussey’s semi-final heroics
The Caribbean islands of the West Indies hosted the 2010 tournament, where Australia’s Michael Hussey played one of the greatest short-form innings of all time by blasting an unbeaten 60 from just 24 balls.
Coming in at seven in the semi-final, and with Australia requiring 87 from 45 balls to beat Pakistan, Hussey reinvigorated his side’s chase with a startling display of hitting.
Needing 18 from the final over, Hussey crashed Saeed Ajmal for three sixes and a four to win the game with a ball to spare.
2012 – Sunil Narine’s control leads Windies to glory
In 2012’s showpiece, Sunil Narine produced a masterful spell of bowling to lead West Indies to their first T20 World Cup crown.
The mystery spinner walked away with figures of 3/9 as Sri Lanka were left stunned in their pursuit of 138 for victory.
Narine picked up the key wicket of Mahela Jayawardene before claiming the final dismissal of Lasith Malinga to cap a remarkable effort with the ball, as Sri Lanka fell 36 runs short.
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