What happened when India last hosted the T20 World Cup?
The last time India hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was in 2016, a tournament that remains registered in memory for one of the most iconic finals the format has ever produced. Spanning seven cities, the 2016 edition showcased India's capacity to host a global event.
How many teams featured in the T20 World Cup 2016?
The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 was the sixth edition of the tournament and the first to be hosted by India. Held from March 8 to April 3, it featured 16 teams and was played across Bengaluru, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur,
and New Delhi. The competition followed a three-stage format, including an opening group stage for the lower-ranked teams, followed by the Super 10s, and finally the knockout rounds.
India's performance in the T20 World Cup 2016
The Men in Blue entered the tournament with high expectations, backed by home conditions and crowds. However, their campaign got off to a shaky start with a heavy defeat against New Zealand. The headlining event was the must-win clash against Pakistan at Eden Gardens, where India chased down the target comfortably. That momentum carried forward, but India repeatedly found themselves in tight situations, none closer than the final Super 10 match against Bangladesh, where a one-run win sealed their semi-final spot.
Virat Kohli's dream run
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli had one of the greatest individual performances in T20 World Cup history. Kohli scored 273 runs at an average of 136.50, anchoring chases against Pakistan, Australia, and Bangladesh. His unbeaten 82 against Australia in Mohali and unbeaten 89 in the semi-final earned him immense applause. India finished second in their group and set up a semi-final clash against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium. In the semi-final, India posted 192/2, once again thanks to Kohli’s unbeaten 89. But the West Indies were guided to the win, courtesy of Lendl Simmons’ unbeaten 82, pulling off the highest successful chase in a T20 World Cup knockout match at the time.
Who won the T20 World Cup 2016?
The final at Eden Gardens brought together England and the West Indies. England posted 155/9, with Joe Root top-scoring with 54. The West Indies’ bowlers, especially Carlos Brathwaite and Samuel Badree, kept the target within reach. Chasing 156, the West Indies needed 19 runs off the final over, bowled by Ben Stokes. Brathwaite smashed four consecutive sixes, sealing the title. With that victory, the West Indies became the first team to win two T20 World Cups. Now, with the 2026 T20 World Cup just a week away, memories of the 2016 edition are still fresh to many. India is set to once again co-host the tournament and, this time, will enter as defending champions.
India squad for T20 World Cup 2016
MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli (vc), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh (Withdrawn), Manish Pandey, (Replacement for Yuvraj Singh) Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Mohammed Shami, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi
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