The upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in 2024 holds immense significance for the West Indies cricket team, who will co-host the tournament alongside the United States. Historically known for their flair and explosive batting prowess, the West Indies have often been considered strong contenders for the title. With two championship victories under their belt in 2012 and 2016, they have showcased moments of brilliance on the global stage.
West Indies: A tale of unfulfilled potential
However, recent editions have seen them falter, failing to replicate their past successes. Despite possessing a lineup packed with power hitters and dynamic all-rounders, the team has struggled to find consistency and dominance in recent tournaments, leaving their fans yearning for another triumphant campaign.
With the weight of expectations and the desire to reclaim their former glory, the West Indies must confront their challenges head-on, harnessing their strengths while addressing their weaknesses. As they gear up to showcase their flair and fighting spirit on home turf, the West Indies aim to rewrite their T20 World Cup narrative, striving to reignite the fire that once propelled them to championship glory.
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West Indies’ journey in the ICC T20 World Cups
1. ICC T20 World Cup 2007 (South Africa)
- Group Stage:
- Vs South Africa: Lost by 8 wickets.
- Vs Bangladesh: Lost by 6 wickets.
The West Indies began their T20 World Cup journey in 2007 with high expectations, particularly with the explosive Chris Gayle at the helm. Gayle made an immediate impact by scoring 117 runs off 57 balls against South Africa, setting the tone for the tournament. Nevertheless, despite individual brilliance, the team’s overall performance fell short. West Indies finished third in their group, failing to progress beyond the group stage.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Chris Gayle’s 117 runs off 57 balls against South Africa.
- Top Run Scorer: Chris Gayle with 117 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Ramnaresh Sarwan’s 2/10 against Bangladesh.
- Top Wicket Taker: Ravi Rampaul with 3 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing third in their group.
2. ICC T20 World Cup 2009 (England)
- Group Stage:
- Vs Australia: Won by 7 wickets.
- Vs Sri Lanka: Lost by 15 runs.
- Super 8s:
- Vs India: Won by 7 wickets.
- Vs England: Lost by 6 wickets.
- Vs South Africa: Won by 6 wickets.
- Semi-Finals:
- Vs Sri Lanka: Lost by 57 runs.
In the 2009 edition, the West Indies showed significant improvement, advancing to the semi-finals. They started strong in the group stage, defeating Australia by 7 wickets. They then lost to Sri Lanka by 15 runs. In the Super 8s, they defeated India by 7 wickets, lost to England by 6 wickets, and beat South Africa by 6 wickets to secure a semi-final spot. Nonetheless, their journey ended with a loss to Sri Lanka by 57 runs in the semi-finals.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Chris Gayle’s 88 runs off 50 balls against Australia
- Top Run Scorer: Chris Gayle with 193 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Lendl Simmons’ 4/19 against Sri Lanka.
- Top Wicket Taker: Dwayne Bravo with 10 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies reached the semi-finals but were defeated by Sri Lanka.
3. ICC T20 World Cup 2010 (West Indies)
- Group Stage:
- Vs Ireland: Won by 70 runs.
- Vs England: Won by 8 wickets (D/L method).
- Super 8s:
- Vs Sri Lanka: Lost by 57 runs.
- Vs India: Won by 14 runs.
- Vs Australia: Lost by 6 wickets.
Hosting the tournament in 2010, the West Indies reached the Super 8 stage. They began with a win against Ireland by 70 runs. They then defeated England by 8 wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis method. In the Super 8s, they lost to Sri Lanka by 57 runs, defeated India by 14 runs, but ultimately lost to Australia by 6 wickets, finishing third in their group and failing to advance to the semi-finals.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Chris Gayle’s 98 runs off 66 balls against India.
- Top Run Scorer: Chris Gayle with 132 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Darren Sammy 3/8 against Ireland.
- Top Wicket Taker: Darren Sammy with 6 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies reached the Super 8s but did not advance further, finishing third in their group.
4. ICC T20 World Cup 2012 (Sri Lanka)
- Group Stage:
- Vs Australia: Lost by 17 runs (D/L method).
- Vs Ireland: Won by 8 wickets.
- Super 8s:
- Vs Sri Lanka: Lost by 9 wickets.
- Vs England: Won by 15 runs.
- Vs New Zealand: Tied, won in Super Over.
- Semi-Finals:
- Vs Australia: Won by 74 runs. Chris Gayle scored 75 off 41 balls.
- Final:
- Vs Sri Lanka: Won by 36 runs. Marlon Samuels played a crucial role.
The 2012 T20 World Cup was a landmark event for the West Indies as they clinched their first title. In the group stage, they lost to Australia by 17 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method but beat Ireland by 8 wickets. In the Super 8s, they lost to Sri Lanka by 9 wickets, beat England by 15 runs, and defeated New Zealand in a Super Over after a tied match. In the semi-finals, they outclassed Australia by 74 runs. In the final, they overcame Sri Lanka by 36 runs to lift the trophy, with Marlon Samuels playing a crucial role.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Johnson Charles’ 84 runs off 56 balls against Australia.
- Top Run Scorer: Marlon Samuels with 230 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Sunil Narine’s 3/9 against Sri Lanka in the final.
- Top Wicket Taker: Sunil Narine and Ravi Rampaul with 9 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies won their first T20 World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the final.
5. ICC T20 World Cup 2014 (Bangladesh)
- Group Stage:
- Vs India: Lost by 7 wickets.
- Vs Bangladesh: Won by 73 runs.
- Vs Australia: Won by 6 wickets.
- Vs Pakistan: Won by 84 runs.
- Semi-Finals:
- Vs Sri Lanka: Lost by 27 runs.
In 2014, the West Indies continued their strong performance, reaching the semi-finals. They started with a loss to India by 7 wickets but bounced back to beat Bangladesh by 73 runs, and Australia by 6 wickets. In the Super 10s, they defeated Pakistan by 84 runs to secure a semi-final spot. However, their campaign ended with a loss to Sri Lanka by 27 runs in the semi-finals.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Dwayne Smith’s 72 runs off 43 balls against Bangladesh.
- Top Run Scorer: Chris Gayle with 143 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Samuel Badree’s 4/15 against Bangladesh.
- Top Wicket Taker: Samuel Badree with 11 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies reached the semi-finals but were defeated by Sri Lanka.
6. ICC T20 World Cup 2016 (India)
- Group Stage:
- Vs England: Won by 6 wickets. Chris Gayle scored 100*.
- Vs Sri Lanka: Won by 7 wickets.
- Vs South Africa: Won by 3 wickets.
- Vs Afghanistan: Lost by 6 wickets.
- Semi-Finals:
- Vs India: Won by 7 wickets. Lendl Simmons scored 82*.
- Final:
- Vs England: Won by 4 wickets. Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes in the last over.
The 2016 T20 World Cup saw the West Indies secure their second title. In the group stage, they started with a win against England by 6 wickets, thanks to Gayle’s 100*. They then beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets, South Africa by 3 wickets, but lost to Afghanistan by 6 wickets. In the semi-finals, they defeated India by 7 wickets with Lendl Simmons scoring 82*. In the final, Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes in the last over secured a dramatic 4-wicket victory over England.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Chris Gayle’s 100* runs off 48 balls against England.
- Top Run Scorer: Marlon Samuels with 181 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Samuel Badree’s 3/12 against Sri Lanka.
- Top Wicket Taker: Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Samuel Badree with 9 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies won their second T20 World Cup, defeating England in the final by 4 wickets with Carlos Brathwaite hitting four consecutive sixes in the last over.
7. ICC T20 World Cup 2021 (UAE & Oman)
- Group Stage:
- Vs England: Lost by 6 wickets.
- Vs South Africa: Lost by 8 wickets.
- Vs Sri Lanka: Lost by 20 runs.
- Vs Bangladesh: Won by 3 runs.
- Vs Australia: Lost by 8 wickets.
In the 2021 T20 World Cup, the West Indies struggled, failing to progress beyond the Super 12 stage. They lost their opening match to England by 6 wickets, followed by defeats to South Africa by 8 wickets, and Sri Lanka by 20 runs. Their only win came against Bangladesh by 3 runs, but a subsequent loss to Australia by 8 wickets meant they finished fifth in their group.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Shimron Hetmyer’s 81* runs off 54 balls against Sri Lanka.
- Top Run Scorer: Shimron Hetmyer with 100 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Akeal Hosein’s 2/24 against England.
- Top Wicket Taker: Akeal Hosein with 5 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies did not progress beyond the Super 12 stage, finishing fifth in their group.
8. ICC T20 World Cup 2022 (Australia)
2022 – Australia:
- Group Stage:
- Vs Scotland: Lost by 42 runs.
- Vs Zimbabwe: Won by 31 runs.
- Vs Ireland: Lost by 9 wickets
The 2022 T20 World Cup was particularly challenging, with the West Indies failing to progress beyond the first round. They started with a win against Zimbabwe by 31 runs but lost to Ireland by 9 wickets and Scotland by 42 runs. This disappointing performance meant they did not qualify for the Super 12 stage, finishing 15th out of 16 teams.
- Best Batting (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Innings: Brandon King’ 62 runs off 48 balls against Ireland.
- Top Run Scorer: Brandon King with 79 runs.
- Best Bowling (Team West Indies):
- Best Individual Bowling: Alzarri Joseph’s 4/16 against Zimbabwe.
- Top Wicket Taker: Alzarri Joseph with 6 wickets.
- Team Performance:
- West Indies did not progress beyond the first round, failing to qualify for the Super 12 stage.
