T20 World Cup 2016: India Hosts, West Indies Stun

India as Hosts and Favourites

The 2016 ICC Men's T20 World Cup was hosted by India across 8 venues. India, as hosts, were among the favourites along with West Indies. The sub-continental spin conditions were expected to suit India and potentially Afghanistan. Kohli was in the form of his life, and Bumrah had emerged as a lethal death bowler.

Kohli's Player of the Tournament Campaign

Virat Kohli was sublime throughout the tournament, scoring runs in virtually every match. His man-of-the-match performance in the India-Pakistan clash at the Eden Gardens — 55* chasing 119 under pressure, with India needing 11 off the last over, Kohli scoring all 11 — was perhaps the pinnacle of his T20I career. He finished as the tournament's highest scorer.

India's Semi-Final Defeat

India, despite Kohli's excellence, fell in the semi-final against West Indies at the Wankhede. Chasing 193, India were 192/2 with two balls remaining when the match was dramatically decided. Lendl Simmons and Chris Gayle had set up 196 — India fell 1 run short. It was one of India's most agonising near-misses in a home World Cup.

The Kolkata Final

The final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata is described in full in the West Indies T20 Dominance article. England's Ben Stokes conceded four consecutive sixes to Carlos Brathwaite. The final was watched by tens of millions across the Caribbean, Americas, and Indian subcontinent. The 66,000 capacity Eden Gardens crowd was witness to one of sport's most astonishing reversals.

Gayle scored 100 off 48 balls against England in the Super 10 stage — the fastest T20 World Cup century at the time. His innings included 11 sixes as England's bowlers were unable to slow the assault. Gayle's power hitting defined the 2016 tournament.