How Did the Three Favourites for the T20 World Cup Fare Last Time Around?

The T20 World Cup is finally underway, and there is already plenty to digest. The United States - hosting a portion of the tournament for the first time in history - got things underway in front of 6,000 fans in Dallas with an entertaining seven-wicket victory against Canada. Elsewhere, England's clash against rivals Scotland was rained off in Barbados, calling into question the ICC's decision to host the other half of the competition in the Caribbean during its annual hurricane season already. There were also victories found against Ireland and the West Indies who held their nerve to defeat Papua New Guinea.

Three of those teams are amongst the four frontrunners to win the tournament alongside reigning Cricket World Cup champions Australia. But how did they fair in the most recent competition in the Land Down Under in late 2022? Let's find out.

India

Just as they were last year when they hosted the Cricket World Cup, online cricket lines have made India the favorites for glory a the T20 World Cup, pricing them as the +200 front runners. However, last year, that favorites tag didn't result in silverware. Despite winning every match up until the final, the Men in Blue were shockingly routed by Australia in the Ahmedabad showpiece, losing by six wickets and with seven overs to spare.

This summer, they are aiming for redemption, and they have already gotten off to the perfect start with a resounding victory against Ireland. They headed into the competition with a reputation for being powerhouses in the shortest format - courtesy of their star-studded lineup that included Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah - and they immediately lived up to the billing. Against the Boys in Green, it was their bowling attack that shone brightest, settling the Irish for just 96 runs and laying down an ominous marker for the rest of the completion.

Last time around, India embarked upon a roller coaster ride. The team started strong with commanding victories against rivals Pakistan - thanks to Kohli's unbeaten 78 - and Afghanistan, showcasing their batting depth and bowling prowess. However, a surprise defeat to New Zealand raised questions about their middle-order resilience and adaptability under pressure.

However, just as they did in the 50-over World Cup in 2019, the Men in Blue were routed by England in the semifinals. After hitting a respectable score of 168, they must have thought that they had a reasonable shot at victory in Adelaide. However, openers Alex Hales, and captain Jos Buttler had other ideas, smashing 86 and 80 respectively to secure a dominant 10-wicket win.

Australia

Australia heads to North America as the reigning 50-over kings and the second favorite to become double champions. Back in 2022, they hosted the T20 World Cup as defending champions as well and were many people's favorites for glory. However, they were a major disappointment. Led by Aaron Finch, the squad featured experienced campaigners like David Warner and Glenn Maxwell who had been a dominant force in the shortest form of the game for some time. But ultimately, they didn't even make it out of their Super 12s group.

The Baggy Greens' campaign was marred by inconsistency, as well as unfortunate weather conditions that ultimately would cause their downfall. While they registered comfortable wins against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, they struggled against stronger opponents like New Zealand, with the Kiwis dominating their neighbors in the tournament opener.

After that defeat, there was a lot of emphasis placed on their make-or-break clash against England. Unfortunately for them, the clash was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to adverse weather conditions. That opened the door for the English to progress at their expense and the progress they made courtesy of their far superior net run rate. The exit marked the third time in four tournaments in which the Aussies had been eliminated in the Supers stage.

England

This year, England is in a place far different from that of two years ago. In 2022, they were on the hunt to become double world champions. This time around, they head to the Caribbean after embarrassingly losing their 50-over crown. However, they are the reigning champions and third favorites to return to the title.

Throughout the group stage in Australia, England shockingly lost to Ireland and their abandonment against the hosts left them teetering on the brink. Ultimately, they reeled off victories against Sri Lanka and New Zealand which saw them through to the semifinals. From there, they didn't look back. They decimated India in the semifinals before Ben Stokes managed to steer them to the championship with a nervy victory against Pakistan at the MCG.

This year, they hope to at least make a better impression than they did when defending their 50-over title in India last year. But as ever with the English, they are prone to an almighty collapse.