With the recent boom in the popularity of cricket in India, the game has seen a considerable rise in interest. However, the sport has existed for several centuries before its recent resurgence. The first recorded game of cricket was played in England in the 17th century. If you’re an avid cricket fan, then you must be well aware of T20 leagues and tournaments. These sports variants have become extremely popular over the last few years, and for good reason too.
T20 leagues allow various teams to play multiple matches per day, which means that a whole new season tends to kick off every other day. This rapid-fire format also helps viewers get more bang for their buck when watching matches at home. T20 cricket is such a fast-paced game that it makes sense to play it this way instead of the long version.
A T20 match is a 20-over match between two sides, with most rules similar to a one-day-international (ODI) match. However, since all the action is packed in 40 overs (20 overs for each side), there’s so much more thrill in the T20 format than in any other format of cricket.
Punters also enjoy betting on T20 matches because there’s a new twist in the game with every next ball. In this article, Fun88 will help you understand what the T20 format is, its history, its rules & how it differs from other forms of cricket.
Read Related: T20 World Cup: All Team Players List – Key Players to Place Your Bet On
History of T20 Cricket Match: Facts You Should Know
- T20 was born when administrators were trying to find new ways to attract spectators in large numbers. The T20 format was officially introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a country cricket match.
- It was on June 13, 2003, that the first T20 games were played between English counties. Since the beginning of the format, it started attracting large crowds to stadiums, which resulted in its widespread popularity.
- Soon after this, regional teams within countries started playing each other in T20 matches. Such matches were happening in many countries, where cricket was popular, like India, Pakistan, West Indies, and Australia. That shows that both administrators and spectators were desperately seeking a new format for the game.
- Interestingly, the first T20 international match was between the women’s teams of England and New Zealand on August 5, 2004. Although the T20 format was becoming popular, it got a real boost when the ICC organized a T20 World Cup for the first time in 2007, which India won.
- After the successful completion of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, several T20 leagues were born in many countries. In India, the BCCI started the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Subsequently, leagues like Bangladesh Premier League, Big Bash League (in Australia), Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and Afghan Premier League were started.
T20 Cricket Match Explained: Format and Rules
- A T20 match is a limited-overs match in which two teams compete, and they are given a maximum of 20 overs each to bat. The team batting first sets a total of runs by playing the 20-over quota. The team batting second has to chase that total to win the match.
- A T20 match lasts approximately three hours; therefore, it’s much shorter than an ODI and a test match. As it takes only 3 hours to watch the match (matches are mostly scheduled in the evening), even busy sports lovers can watch the game. They may even go to a stadium to watch a match if it’s happening in their city.
- An inning in a T20 match lasts for around 90 minutes, which is followed by a 10-minute break, and then the next inning takes place. A 10-minute break is much shorter than breaks in ODIs and test matches, which keeps the excitement alive.
- Unlike ODIs and test matches, where most players of a batting team (except for the two players who are in the middle to bat) stay in the dressing room. In T20 matches, all players of the batting team sit close to the ground.
- As a T20 game progresses, you can see the emotion and excitement on their faces, which gives a totally different vibe to cricket. In a T20 match, a bowler can bowl a maximum of 4 overs in an uninterrupted match.
- During the match, on the leg side, there can’t be more than five fielders. During the powerplay (the first six overs), the fielding restrictions require that a maximum of two fielders can be positioned outside the 30-yard circle. But, after the first six overs, a maximum of five fielders can be outside the fielding circle.
What Happens When a T20 Cricket Match Ends Up in a Tie?
The team, which batted second in the match, bats first in the super over, while the team, which batted first, bats second. Two batsmen take the crease, and if one gets out, the third batsman walks in. If two batsmen get out within the super over, then their inning is over.
The team batting second has to score one run more than the runs scored by the team batting first. But what if a super-over ends in a tie as well?
T20 World Cup Winners
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T20 World Cup Winners List from 2007 to 2022 |
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| Year | Winner |
| 2007 | India |
| 2009 | Pakistan |
| 2010 | England |
| 2012 | West Indies |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka |
| 2016 | West Indies |
| 2021 | Australia |
| 2022 | TBD |
Wrapping Up!!
With its short duration and fast-changing nature, T20 fits the needs of fans who don’t have much time to watch extended cricket. Looking for more insights on T20 World Cup, register on Fun88’s website or download the app today!
