T20 World Cup: The Players Who Could Create The Next Iconic Moments
Over its nine editions so far, the T20 world cup has been defined by thrilling moments that turned a game—and eventually the tournament—on its head. Esquire India takes a punt on the names that can re-create nine iconic moments in the 10th edition
2007
Yuvraj Singh’s Durban Legend
The second semi-final in 2007 gave us an iconic Yuvraj Singh innings. Early wickets left India stuttering, but Singh came up clutch with a destructive 70 of 30 (with five 6s and five boundaries) balls. It set India on their way to a target they could puff their chests out at.
Abhishek Sharma
Sharma is coded for T20 cricket. Fast hands, fearless and a clean striker of the ball just like Singh, Sharma will have a big say in India’s progress at home in 2026.
Who lost out: Shimron Hetmyer. A class act with the capability to connect six times in an over, but Sharma wins on sheer form.
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2009
Umar Gul makes Kiwi Juice
Hell hath no fury like Umar Gul on song. The Pakistani limited-overs specialist had a damning bevy of deadly deliveries at his disposal. With his team staring down the barrel in the tournament and win against New Zealand necessary, Gul turned up and decimated any chance of the opponents staging a comeback after being reduced to 72-4 in the 12th over.
Marco Jansen
The talented Protea quick has the tendency to get temperamental, but he has the bite to run through sides. He can swing the ball both ways and his height (six foot eight) could make it quite awkward for batters used to subcontinental bounce.
Who lost out: Matheesha Pathirana
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2010
Mike Hussey takes out Saeed Ajmal
He might be known for his exploits in the longest form of the game, but in 2010, Hussey brought his elite technical prowess to the World Cup semi-final. Having walked in with Australia needing 87 from 45 balls, Hussey would face Pak off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. It was 18 to get off six. Making full use of the big wind blowing across the stadium, Mr Cricket walloped Ajmal for three maximums and a boundary to complete a stunning run chase.
Tristan Stubbs
Adept against spin and gifted with solid footwork, Stubbs has been a prized commodity in franchise cricket. And this might be his breakout moment on the international stage.
Who lost out: Tilak Varma. By a whisker.
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2012
Lasith Malinga snuffs England out
In yet another title defence shattering, Sri Lanka successfully defended a shaky-looking 169 courtesy Lasith Malinga tearing through England with a timely fifer. He kneecapped them early, sending back the top three—Luke Wright, Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow. Malinga then returned at 5-91 and 7-144 to neutralise any prospective threats from Jos Buttler and Samit Patel.
Mitchell Starc
The only guy in the world right now with a decisive yorker—and we can see him owning a big game with a fifer. And much like Malinga in 2012, he doesn't need form to do it. He’s got the experience to inflict a tournament-defining strike.
Who lost out: Jasprit Bumrah, but just because were willing to bet on an aging legend. Never count Starc out.
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2014
Rangana Herath runs through New Zealand
New Zealand needed 120 off 120 balls. And then Rangana Herath said ‘hold on’. The left-arm-spinner was quite a big-stage bloke and his 2014 rout of New Zealand was cricketing brutality. Him deceiving Brendon McCullum in the crease and making the birther of Bazball look like a clueless tailender has inexhaustible repeat-watch value. Don’t miss the jaffa he bowled to Luke Ronchi.
Adil Rashid
He may have honed his art on tarmac tracks and the skiddy decks of Bradford, but the time couldn’t have been riper for the veteran England leggie to produce something unbelievable on deviously low subcontinent pitches. A master of drift who likes to vary his pace, Rashid is the cog that could bring the trophy home.
Who lost out: Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Kuldeep Yadav. Herath’s spell needed maturity, smarts and reading match situations well. Our bets are on Rashid.
2016
Carlos Brathwaite’s demolition job vs Ben Stokes in the final
Everyone has forgotten what Marlon Samuels did for the West Indies in this match. Could anything be more traumatising than the fate Stokesy suffered at the big Barbadian’s hands? The England all-rounder had one job—conceding 18 runs or less in an over. But Brathwaite laid into him with ferocity and hunger and by the time the fourth ball had been bowled, Eden Gardens had gone completely bonkers. Six, six, six, six.
Tim David
This David is literally Goliath. Known for his powerful bottom hand, this feared T20 finisher once hit Axar Patel for a 129-metre six. He has the joint third-fastest T20 hundred (for full-member nations).
2021
Matthew Wade three sixes off Shaheen Afridi in SF
The wicketkeeper-batter brought his renowned timing game and acrobatics when it mattered. Utilising the natural angle made by the bowler’s towering point of release, Wade got under the ball early, and scooped, carted and again scooped Afridi for three sixes in the 19th over of the game.
Rinku Singh
From tonking Yash Dayal for five chase-sealing sixes in the IPL to coming in at crucial stages and ending up with ridiculous late-stage strike rates, Singh has the ability to utilise his centre of gravity and get under the ball pretty easily.
Who lost out: Harry Brook
2022
Virat Kohli’s six off Haris Rauf
In the 19th over of a Super 12 match, India still needed 28 runs. Haris Rauf fired in a length ball, around bails height. Kohli, with his weight falling backwards and swatted the ball right back over Rauf’s head with a straight bat. Kohli didn’t hit the winning runs that night, but his six was still the defining shot of the tournament.
Daryl Mitchell
With his tall stance, incredible reach and power, Daryl Mitchell is primed to deliver a Kohli-esque shot. Mitchell is all about building momentum. Once he gets going for the Kiwis, it’s nigh on impossible to stop him.
Who lost out: Jos Buttler
2024
Hardik Pandya nabs Heinrich Klaasen
Perennial ‘chokers’ South Africa were threatening the unprecedented—a World Cup trophy. With Heinrich Klaasen murdering the Indian bowling in a marauding pursuit of 176, a miracle was desperately needed. In walked MVP Hardik Pandya, bowling a sucker ball, a deceptive slower one that kissed the outside edge of Klaasen’s blade. The Proteas tripped—once again—and came down like a house of cards. Pandya came back for the last over, this time testing hard-hitter David Miller with a full toss that was just high enough to be mishit. Suryakumar Yadav did the rest, pocketing a blinder at long-off. India won.
Who lost out: Really, no one. Pandya’s Midas touch is difficult to replicate at this stage. He is the bad luck charm that opposition fans hate.