ICC Men’s T20 World Cup : Top 6 Interesting Facts You Probably Don’t Know

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The ICC Men’s T20 WC, formerly known as the ICC World Twenty20, was first held in 2007 and has been one of the most popular and intense cricket tournaments ever since. Commemorated by billions of fans around the world for its fierce rivalries, dramatic matches, and fast-paced format, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament has been delivering action-packed drama and a thrilling streak of entertainment to cricket aficionados since its inception in 2007.

The latest 2024 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, clinched by the Indian cricket team, was co-hosted by the United States and by the West Indies. The final match of the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup between India and South Africa smashed all pre-existing records and marked an online OTT viewership of 53 million.

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Although billions of cricket aficionados around the world commemorate the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the ultimate saga of intense cricket, a majority of them still have no idea about the most interesting and thrilling facts related to the World Cup.

In this article, we will take a look at the top six most interesting and thrilling facts about the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that you probably don’t know about.

Top 6 Interesting Facts About The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

• The Inaugural Champions of ICC Men’s T20 WC

The inaugural season of the ICC T20 World Cup was held in South Africa in 2007 and was won by the Indian cricket team led by the legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni against Pakistan. The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg witnessed a thrilling match between the arch-rivals.

After setting a formidable target of 157 runs, the Indian cricket team managed to bowl out the Pakistan squad at 152, clinching the iconic match by five runs. Irfan Pathan was named “Man of the Match” for his match-winning performance against Pakistan.

• The First “Hat-Trick” of the ICC Men’s T20 WC

The inaugural season of the ICC T20 World Cup witnessed numerous iconic spectacles unfolding. Brett Lee’s breathtaking hat-trick against Pakistan is still commemorated by the fans as one such path-breaking moment in international cricket. Australia’s iconic bowler Brett Lee ruthlessly dismissed Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, and Alok Kapali in a stunning streak that left the cricket world in disbelief and shook Pakistan’s top batting order like a trembling deck of cards.

• Most Runs In A Single ICC Men’s T20 WC

The legendary cricketer of India, Virat Kohli, who recently announced his early retirement from the T20 World Cup format after successfully clinching the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup against South Africa, has dominated the format with his finest and unshakable innings over the years.

Virat Kohli, also rightly referred to as “the run machine” of the Indian cricket team, smashed a total of 319* runs in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup edition. While it’s been a total of nine ICC T20 World Cup seasons to date, no batsman has been able to surpass the king’s record.

• The “Replica” Of The ICC Men’s T20 WC Trophy

Have you seen your favorite team commemorating their victory at the intensely competitive ICC T20 World Cup finals? Although the winning team is presented with the original trophy at the beginning, after their celebration is completed, the ICC (International Cricket Council) takes possession of the “original” T20 World Cup Trophy and presents the team with a “replica” that looks identical to the original trophy but differs in the inscriptions.

• The “Balls” At The ICC Men’s T20 WC 

The International Cricket Council (ICC), over the years, has become more rigid about the T20 World Cup format and has laid down numerous stringent guidelines and rules, which also involve a rigorous inspection of the balls used in the T20 World Cup. As per the ICC guidelines, the white balls should necessarily weigh between 155.9g – 163g.

Additionally, the balls are also carefully tested to ensure the right hardness and compression to offer an accurate bounce and responsiveness on the field. Furthermore, it is mandatory for the balls being used in the T20 World Cup tournament to be sourced only from an ICC-approved manufacturer.

• The “Bats” At The ICC Men’s T20 WC

As per the guidelines of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the cricket bats used in the ICC T20 World Cup must not be longer than 38 inches and shouldn’t exceed a thickness of 1.56 inches. Additionally, the ICC has also made it mandatory for the handle and blade of the bat to be made of wood.

Furthermore, the protective coverings used should not exceed the allowable dimensions. Also, as per the ICC guidelines, the bats used during the ICC T20 World Cup tournaments should display the manufacturer’s details, including name and logo.

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