T20 World Cup 2022: The T20 World Cup has seen numerous upsets over the years. There have been some moments in the marquee tournament that entirely changed the complexion of the match. An underdog winning a fixture is something that stays with the fans for quite a long as these are moments that do not happen too often.

Undoubtedly, an upset is not great for everyone involved, however, neutral fans rooting for an underdog to win relish it whenever it happens. In this article, we gonna take a look at the top 5 biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.

Also Read: Biggest Wins in T20 World Cup by Runs Margin

T20 World Cup 2022: Top 5 Biggest Upsets in T20 World Cup history

#5. Zimbabwe vs Australia | 2007

Australia does not often go in any competition without the 'favorites' tag, that is the reputation the Aussies have built. The inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 saw the first major upset when an African nation, Zimbabwe handed the Aussies a humiliating loss in the first match of their campaign.

It was a game for cricket fans (other than Australia's) to remember. Australia looked rusty as they posted a low score of 138/9 in their 20 overs. However, it was still expected that the Aussies would fight back and win the game.

But unfortunately for them, Brendan Taylor had other plans. He powered his side to a successful chase with a flamboyant 45-ball 60*. Moreover, pace spearheads such as Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson in the bowling line-up too could not make any difference. The side eventually faced the fate of losing out in the first match.

Read Also: Player of the tournament winners in T20 World Cup History

#4. Bangladesh vs West Indies | 2007

Another match in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup that garnered a lot of attention was the fixture between Bangladesh and the West Indies. The two sides were placed in Group A along with South Africa who finished the group on top.

However, the other side that looked like favorites to qualify for the elimination round was the West Indies. The Windies were reeling from a loss against the Proteas and it made the Bangladesh fixture a must-win match.

The West Indies batted first and posted a competitive total of 164. However, Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful and Aftab Ahmed scored 123 runs between them and pulled off an epic run-chase for the side. What followed was an unceremonious exit for the Windies led by Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Also Read: Most Runs in T20 World Cup history

#3. Netherlands vs England | 2009

Hosts England endured a horrendous outing against the Netherlands after the latter pulled off a stunning win at Lord's in the tournament opener to stun them. England was put into bat first. The sublime knocks from Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright helped the side attain a total of 162 in their 20 overs.

England had got the job half done in the match as favorites. However, a determined Dutch side had certain crucial cards up their sleeve. Valiant knocks by Tom de Grooth, Peter Borren, and Ryan ten Doeschate put the side ahead of England in the match.

Moreover, the Dutch side scored two runs off the final ball which helped them chase down the total. Not just in 2009, but the Dutch replicated the win against England in the T20 World Cup 2014 as well.

Read Also: Most Wickets in T20 World Cup history

#2. Afghanistan vs West Indies | 2016

The West Indies were involved in yet another shocking defeat which was deemed as the biggest upset of the T20 World Cup 2016 as they lost to Afghanistan. Darren Sammy-led side was already riding high as they had qualified for the knockout round winning all three matches prior to the meeting with Afghanistan.

Whereas Afghanistan had a contrasting campaign as they had lost all their three matches before the game against the Windies. However, they bid the World T20 campaign adieu by beating the West Indies by six runs in a low-scoring thriller.

Afghanistan posted a chasable target of 124 in 20 overs. The team from the Caribbean was on course to win the fixture with 40 runs required from the last five overs. But in an interesting turn of events, spin exposed the weakness of the West Indies as Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi scalped two wickets each. Meanwhile, that helped Afghanistan register their first in their campaign.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Top 5 performances by Indian players

#1. Sri Lanka vs Namibia | 2022

Sri Lanka was the clear favorite in the First Round of the T20 World Cup 2022 against the African nation Namibia. However, sheer dominance was projected by Namibia as they quite comfortably defended their competitive total of 163.

Sri Lanka came into the fixture, having won the Asia Cup 2022 by beating Pakistan in the finals. Whereas fans expected Namibia to push the Lankan Lions and give them a run for their money. However, Sri Lanka in their chase lost wickets at regular intervals which made matters worse for them in terms of the net run rate.

Read Also: Five young cricketers who can be a legend in ten years

Namibia looks like a strong contender to qualify for the Super 12 after handing the Lankan Lions in what can be termed as one of the biggest upsets of recent times. It will be interesting to see how the Lankan Lions lift themselves from the loss.

N.B: Last Updated on 16/10/2022

India is a nation where cricket is not just a sport but a religion. The crowd, the stadiums, and most importantly, the passion for cricket that the vibrant atmosphere brings, have made every ICC tournament hosted on Indian soil unforgettable.

Therefore, when it comes to hosting ICC tournaments, India delivers an experience like no other.

This article will take you through the history and highlights of ICC tournaments hosted by India that captivated millions.

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, inaugurated in 1975, has had 13 seasons so far. Out of which, India hosted the tournament 4 times, in the years: 1987, 1996, 2011, 2023. They are also scheduled to host the 2031 season, alongside Bangladesh.

Here's the detailed highlight of each year:

1987: First edition in India, co-hosted with Pakistan

The 1987 Cricket World Cup was the first time the tournament was held outside England. It was known as the "Reliance Cup" due to sponsorship and was also the first 50-over WC, reduced from 60 overs in previous editions.

Co-hosted with Pakistan, India topped the group stage and had a great season. However, they were eliminated in the semi-finals by England at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The Final was played at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata, between Australia and England. Australia won their first title and lifted the World Cup with pride on Indian soil.

1996: Second edition with co-hosts Pakistan and Sri Lanka

This edition was hosted by India, along with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India faced a controversial semi-final defeat against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. It was caused due to crowd disturbance and India's collapsing run chase, which ultimately led to the game being abandoned.

Sri Lanka won their first World Cup title by defeating Australia and became the first co-host to do so.

2011: India's home triumph

Co-hosted with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, this was India's ultimate dream and crowning moment. Led by MS Dhoni, India had a dominant campaign and went on to win the World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka in a memorable final.

India became the first team to win the World Cup on home soil. The fact that the final match was held at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, makes it even more special. The roar of the crowd, legendary performances, and the winning six will be forever etched in the hearts of millions.

The final was also the first time two Asian teams played against each other in the tournament's history.

#ThisDayThatYear - In 2011, “Dhoni finishes off in style. India lift the World Cup after 28 years” - in @RaviShastriOfc's immortal voice pic.twitter.com/Q61sLx10VA

— BCCI (@BCCI) April 2, 2017

Read Also: India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

2023: India's unfulfilled dream and heartbreak on home soil

As the sole host, India delivered a spectacular performance throughout the tournament. They dominated every opponent in the group stage and the semi-final, without losing a single match across all venues.

However, despite their brilliant efforts, they lost to the Australian side in the final, held at the world's largest stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. This was a major heartbreak for the team and fans, who dreamed of a home victory after 12 years.

Virat Kohli was named the player of the tournament, setting a new record for most runs in a single WC edition, and Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

India has formally hosted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup twice. Here's a summary of those tournaments:

2016: A carnival of T20 cricket on Indian soil

India battled through every match brilliantly in the season with a great squad. However, their journey ended in the semi-final with a high-scoring loss against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

This season was a special one and delivered many dramatic, nail-biting encounters. The final match, held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is also popular for its thrilling finish, where Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes to seal the victory for WI against England.

Read Also: Who scored the fastest century in T20 World Cups?

2021: India's hostship amidst global challenges (Held in UAE & Oman)

Although India was the designated host, the tournament was moved to the UAE and Oman due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in India. They also had a disappointing campaign, failing to qualify for the semi-finals.

ICC Men's Champions Trophy

India officially hosted the ICC Men's Champions Trophy once, in 2006, and is set to host the 2029 edition.

2006: India's first and only edition as hosts

This was the fifth edition of the Champions Trophy and the first time India had the sole hosting rights. They had a disappointing start to the season and failed to progress beyond the group stage, leading to an early exit.

The tournament featured 10 teams, and the Australian side, led by Ricky Ponting, emerged as champions.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

India has hosted the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 3 times, in the years 1978, 1997, and 2013. They are also scheduled to co-host the 2025 season.

Read Also: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

1978: The inaugural WC on Indian soil

This was India's debut World Cup appearance as well as the first time hosting the tournament. They lost all three matches against Australia, England, and New Zealand in the round-robin format, and finished fourth (last).

This was the first time the tournament was being hosted outside England. 

1997: A record-breaking season in India

This was the largest Women's World Cup at that time, featuring 11 teams and 32 matches across various venues in India. India put up a strong fight, but was defeated by Australia in the semis.

The final at Eden Gardens attracted a significant crowd, showcasing the growing interest in women's cricket. Australia won their fourth Women's World Cup title, beating New Zealand, and their second on Indian soil.

2013: India's early exit in the home tournament

This edition saw several close matches throughout the group stage. India, as hosts, had a disappointing campaign and failed to go beyond the group stage. Yet again, Australia secured their sixth WC title, and the 3rd on Indian soil.

ICC Women's T20 World Cup

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup, organised in 2009, has been conducted for 9 seasons so far. India has hosted the tournament once, in 2016.

2016: A global showcase of women's T20 cricket in India

This tournament, held alongside the Men's T20 World Cup, served as a significant platform. India had a challenging season, winning only a single match against Bangladesh and losing the remaining ones.

West Indies emerged as champions in an intense final against Australia and lifted their first T20 World Cup title.

Read Also: Top 10 fastest centuries in Women's T20Is

Upcoming ICC tournaments to be hosted by India:

Cricket Australia on Friday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup 2025. The Australian team will enter the World Cup under the leadership of experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Alyssa Healy. Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux and allrounder Georgia Wareham have returned to the squad after recovering from injury.

The seven-time champion Australia is also the defending champion and will look to maintain its dominance in the upcoming competition. This tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2.

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Prize money in Women's World Cup sets history, rise of 297 percent from the last edition

Players return from injuries

Sophie Molineux has been out since January due to a knee injury. However, she will not be able to play in the three-match ODI series against India from 14 to 20 September. Darcie Brown and Georgia Wareham also returned to the squad from recent injuries.

Ten of the 15 members named featured in the previous edition of the tournament back in 2022, with skipper Alyssa Healy taking charge of the squad in her third Cricket World Cup.

Australia to begin campaign on October 1

The Australia also includes 10 players who were also part of the last tournament played in 2022. This team also includes experienced players like Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath and Ash Gardner. Australia will begin its campaign against New Zealand in Indore on October 1.

Australia will finalise its preparations for the mega event with three ODIs against hosts India from September 14-20 in New Chandigarh and New Dehli, before opening its Women's ODI World Cup 2025 campaign.

Australia will face each of the other seven nations across the round-robin format, with the top four sides progressing to the semi-finals on October 29 and 30. The Final will be played November 2.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Australia Squad

Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

Team India will play the fifth and final Test match against England at Kennington Oval in London, which starts on July 31. If India has to level the series, then it is important for them to win this match. So far, England is leading 2-1 in this 5 match Test series. They won the first and third Tests while Team India won the second Test. The fourth Test match between the two was a draw.

In the final match, India will aim to replicate their Edgbaston’s performance to beat the hosts and for that, they will have to form a formidable playing XI against the English side. 

Prior to the massive game, here is everything you need to know before the ENG vs IND fifth test match at Kennington, Oval in London.

Also Read: India’s Test records at Kennington Oval, London

Match Details

• Match: England vs India
• Tournament: India tour of England, 5th Test
• Date: 31 July 2025
• Time: 3:30 PM IST
• Venue: Kennington Oval, London

Streaming Details

The ENG vs IND 5th Test will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.

The viewers can watch the India vs England 5th Test live telecast on the Sony Sports Network.

ENG vs IND: Head-to-head stats

Pitch Report: Kennington Oval

The ugly verbal spat between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and Oval’s pitch curator has been the major talking point ahead of the fifth Test. Keeping that aside, the pitch matchday minus day two looked quite greenish. However, the groundsman will cut some grass on the eve of the clash.

This means the pacers will do the talking, especially with the brand new red Dukes cherry. This domestic season, seamers have ruled the roost as well, having picked up 131 of the 150 wickets that have fell in 5 games.

Moreover, since 2019, the average score has been less than 300 across all the four innings in Tests at Kennington Oval. This all sums up that we might have a low-scoring affair, favouring seamers.

Weather Report

The weather prediction for London on Day 1 is for partly overcast conditions with a few afternoon showers. A full day of play is anticipated on Day 2, which is predicted to be sunny.

The third day will be lovely and transparent. There will probably be rainy periods on Day 4. Long stretches of sunlight on Day 5 will allow for another full day of recreation.

Also Read: Most runs in a series in Tests

ENG vs IND Predicted XI

England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer/Gus Atkinson.

India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.

The Anderson-Tendulkar series between India and England has now reached an exciting stage. Four matches of this five-match series have been completed so far. England is leading the series 2-1.

The final match of this exciting series will be played at Kennington Oval, London. Victory is a must for Team India in this final and decisive Test match to be held from July 31. However, the record of the Indian team on this ground has been worrying, due to which the match is expected to be even more challenging. Team India faces the difficult challenge of defeating England in the last Test and ending the series on a draw.

Also Read: Most runs in a series in Tests

India’s Test records at Oval

India has played a total of 15 Test matches at Kennington, Oval so far. Out of which 14 matches have been played between India and England, while one match was the final of the World Test Championship between India and Australia.

In these matches, India has won only twice, while it has faced defeat six times. The remaining seven matches have ended in a draw. These figures show that this ground has not been easy for India.

India played its first Test match on this ground in August 1936, in which it lost to England by 9 wickets. After this, the matches held in 1946 and 1952 were drawn, but in 1959 India had to face a crushing defeat by an innings and 27 runs.

Also Read: Most Runs for India in a Test Series

First victory in 1971

India got its first victory at the Oval in the year 1971. This victory is counted among the golden moments of Indian cricket history. Under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar, India defeated England by 4 wickets and registered its first big Test victory abroad. This victory proved to be a milestone for Indian cricket at that time.

A long string of defeats

From 1979 to 2007, India played five Test matches here, all of which were draws. India struggled during these years, but victory remained elusive. After this, a series of defeats started in 2011, when England defeated India by an innings and 8 runs. In 2014, India again lost by an innings and 244 runs, which was one of its biggest defeats at that time. In 2018 also, India had to face defeat by 118 runs.

Historic victory of 2021

However, in 2021, India performed its best at the Oval and defeated England by 157 runs. This victory was the biggest victory ever for Team India on this ground. In that match, both the bowlers and the batsmen performed brilliantly, which gave new energy to India's confidence.

WTC Final disappointment

In July 2023, India played the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia at the Oval. However, in this title match, India had to face defeat by 209 runs and another disappointing record was added to the Oval.

Also Read: Most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | Bumrah leads the list

India’s Test records at Oval match-wise

India’s Test records at Oval performance-wise

• Highest Total: 664 vs England in 2007
• Lowest Total: 94 vs England in 2014
• Best Batting: Sunil Gavaskar (221) in 1979
• Best Bowling: BS Chandrasekhar (6/38) in 1971

The Nation England has produced some extraordinary Batsmen in Cricket. They have impressed Cricket fans from all over the world with their achievements and glory. The test is considered the Best Format in Cricket. England has & had some players who are the best among many in the world of Test Cricket. Sir Jack Hobbs is considered the Best Test Batsman for England in Tests. He has scored 5410 runs in just 102 innings with 15 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

In recent times of greats, Joe Root has proven himself one of the greatest if not the greatest for England in Test Format as he has every right due to his achievements. Now, Let's give a look at the list of the Top 5 Batsmen with the most test centuries for England.

Read Also: Most International Hundreds among Active Players

Top 5 Batsmen with the Most Test Centuries for England:

1. Joe Root | 38 Centuries

England batter Joe Root has written his name in the history books for England in Test Format by bringing up his 38th Test hundred on the third day of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester. With this century, Root also climbed to second on the all time list of Test run-scorers. Moreover, he also overtook Graham Gooch as the highest run-scorer at Lord's in international cricket. 

Root made his debut in 2012 against team India and since then he has played 157* test matches. He has scored 13,409 runs with an average of 51.17.

2. Alastair Cook | 33 Centuries

Alastair Cook was one of the greats in Test Cricket of his generation. He made his debut against India in 2006 for the national team in Test Cricket. Cook played 161 Test matches in which he batted 291 innings. He scored 12,472 runs with an average of 45.35. His highest score was 294 and he made 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries for his team. Cook played his last Test Match against India in 2018.

3. Kevin Pietersen | 23 Centuries

Kevin Pietersen has proved himself across every format for England. He made his Test debut in 2005 against the Australian side at Lords. Pietersen played 104 test matches, in which he scored 8181 runs with an average of 47.29. He played his last test match against Australia in 2014. Kevin Pietersen is third on the list with 23 Centuries.

4. Wally Hammond | 22 Centuries

The judgment of cricket history is that the greatest batsmen the game has known are - WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, and Don Bradman. Others may come close indeed to those four but do not quite take place with them. Hammond made his test debut against South Africa in 1927. He played 85 test matches and scored 7249 runs with an average of 58.45. He is 4th on the list with 22 test centuries. The Great Walter Hammond played his last Test match against New Zealand in 1947.

5. Colin Cowdrey | 22 Centuries

Colin Cowdrey mostly known as Michael Cowdrey played Cricket for 21 years, One of the most durable batsmen in the history of Test Cricket. Cowdrey made his test debut in 1954 against the Aussies and played 114 matches, scoring 7624 runs with an average of 44.06. He is 5th on the list with the same no as Wally Hammond, 22 centuries. Michael Cowdrey played his last test match in 1975 against the Australian side.

Top 10 Players with the Most Centuries in Test Cricket for England: