ICC Women's T20 World Cup Explained
A complete guide to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup — its history, format, winners, and the growth of women's T20 cricket as a global sport.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup is the premier international tournament for women's T20 cricket, held every two years. It was first played in 2009 in England and has grown into one of the most-watched women's sporting events globally. Australia have been the dominant force in the tournament's history, winning multiple editions under skippers like Meg Lanning. India have been the most consistent challengers, reaching multiple finals.
Tournament Format
The Women's T20 World Cup typically includes 10 teams divided into two groups of five. Each team plays the other four teams in their group in a round-robin format; the top two from each group advance to the semi-finals. The four semi-final qualifiers play knockout matches (1st vs 2nd in each group's cross); the two winners meet in the final. From 2024, the ICC expanded the tournament to 12 teams in certain editions.
Tournament Winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | England | New Zealand | England |
| 2010 | Australia | New Zealand | West Indies |
| 2012 | Australia | England | Sri Lanka |
| 2014 | Australia | England | Bangladesh |
| 2016 | West Indies | Australia | India |
| 2018 | Australia | England | West Indies |
| 2020 | Australia | India | Australia |
| 2023 | Australia | South Africa | South Africa |
| 2024 | New Zealand | South Africa | UAE/Bangladesh |
The 2020 World Cup Record Crowd
The 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground attracted 86,174 spectators — the highest attendance for a women's cricket match in history and one of the highest for any women's sporting event globally. Australia defeated India in the final; the crowd and the occasion marked a turning point in the public profile of women's cricket. The record came on International Women's Day (March 8), amplifying the significance of the moment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best women's T20 cricket player ever?
Ellyse Perry (Australia) is widely regarded as the greatest women's cricketer in modern history — an exceptional all-rounder who has scored over 1,500 T20I runs, taken 115+ T20I wickets, and contributed to Australia's World Cup dominance for over a decade. Meg Lanning's captaincy and her batting average in T20Is also places her in the conversation. Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, and Shafali Verma have emerged as the leading names of the current generation.
Is women's T20 cricket growing?
Yes, women's T20 cricket has grown enormously in viewership and participation since 2016. The Women's Premier League (WPL) in India, launched in 2023, was the first women's franchise T20 league with significant commercial backing — franchises were sold for up to $11.6 million. The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia, Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), and The Hundred in England have created regular franchise cricket for women across the globe.