Shahid Afridi’s 2009 heroics named among iconic T20 World Cup moments

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Khan Afridi’s all-round performance in the 2009 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has been listed among the most unforgettable iconic moments in the tournament’s history.

From India’s title win in the inaugural 2007 edition to the most recent competition, a series of standout performances have left a lasting impact on T20 cricket.

At the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007, Yuvraj Singh etched his name into history by smashing six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad. The left-hander became only the fourth player to achieve the feat, after Garry Sobers, Ravi Shastri and Herschelle Gibbs, and the first to do so in T20 cricket. His blistering 12-ball fifty helped India post a commanding total and set up a five-run victory over Pakistan in the final.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi returned to the spotlight in the 2009 tournament. In the semi-final against South Africa, Afridi scored a vital 51 off 34 balls and took key wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers, finishing with figures of 2-16. His all-round display guided Pakistan to their second successive T20 World Cup final and played a decisive role in their eventual title triumph.

In the 2010 semi-final in the West Indies, Australia’s Michael Hussey produced a remarkable innings against Pakistan. Batting at number seven, Hussey struck an unbeaten 60 off just 24 balls. With Australia needing 87 runs from 45 deliveries, his late onslaught, including three sixes and a four in the final over, sealed a dramatic win with one ball remaining.

The 2012 final saw Sunil Narine deliver a match-winning bowling performance as the West Indies lifted their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. Narine took 3-9, dismissing key Sri Lankan batsmen including Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga, as Sri Lanka fell 36 runs short while chasing 138.

Another standout bowling effort came when Rangana Herath starred for Sri Lanka in a crucial knockout match against New Zealand. After Sri Lanka were bowled out for 119, Herath claimed five wickets for just three runs and was involved in two run-outs, helping dismiss New Zealand for only 60.

The 2016 final produced one of the most iconic moments in T20 history when Carlos Brathwaite powered the West Indies to victory against England. Needing 19 runs from the final over, Brathwaite smashed four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes, a moment immortalised by Ian Bishop’s famous commentary.

Australia claimed the title in 2021, with Mitch Marsh playing a match-winning knock of 77 not out in the final against New Zealand. Partnering David Warner after Aaron Finch’s early dismissal, Marsh led the chase of 173 and earned the Player of the Match award in an eight-wicket win.

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England secured their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup crown in 2022, with Ben Stokes anchoring the final against Pakistan. Chasing 138, England were reduced to 45-3 before Stokes’ composed 52 guided them home with an over to spare, making England the first team to hold both white-ball world titles simultaneously.

The most recent iconic performance came in the 2024 final, where Virat Kohli scored a composed 76 to lift India to 176-7 against South Africa. After India slumped to 34-3, Kohli’s innings earned him the Player of the Match award, while Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling sealed a seven-run victory in what was Kohli’s final T20I appearance.