The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, originally known as the ICC World Twenty20, was first held in 2007 in South Africa, marking the beginning of international competition in the shortest format of the game - 20 overs per side.

India won that inaugural edition after a thrilling final against Pakistan, which helped spark the global popularity of T20 cricket.

The tournament has since been staged roughly every two years, featuring teams from across the cricketing world. Over time, it has expanded in both scale and competitiveness, with nations such as England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia also lifting the trophy.

The West Indies became the first team to win the title twice, followed by England and India, underlining their strength in the T20 format. Each edition has produced iconic moments—from Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over in 2007 to Carlos Brathwaite’s last-over heroics in 2016—cementing the T20 World Cup’s reputation as one of cricket’s most exciting and unpredictable global tournaments.