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Follow UsTeam India have had a decent record in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. Apart from being the inaugural champions in 2007, they have been semifinalists in 2016 and 2022 and runners-up in 2014.
However, all the aforementioned results were either pre-IPL or 3-4 months after an IPL season. Whenever the side went to a ICC Men’s T20 World Cup immediately after an IPL season, the campaign ended up being a disaster for the Men in Blue.
Let us explore how India fared in every T20WC that was played immediately after the IPL.
ICC T20 World Cup 2009: England
Days between end of IPL and start of T20WC: 12 days
Where the team finished: Knocked out in Super 8s (bottom of the table)
How did India's campaign go?
Team India went into the tournament handicapped as Virender Sehwag got prematurely ruled out of the T20WC after suffering an injury in the semi-final clash against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009. He was replaced by Dinesh Karthik, and Rohit Sharma was made to open the batting with Gautam Gambhir.
The league stage went well with India winning both their games convincingly against Bangladesh and Ireland. They finished at top of their group and qualified to the Super 8s along with Ireland from Group A.
In the Super 8s, India had to face West Indies, home team England and South Africa respectively. Dwayne Bravo's all-round show blew away India at Lord's. The Men in Blue then fell short by 3 runs (target 154) against hosts England and got knocked out of the tournament with a game still remaining.
South Africa finally dominated MS Dhoni's Men in the final Super 8 game and handed them a third consecutive defeat as India exited the Super 8s stage winless.
ICC T20 World Cup 2010: West Indies
Days between end of IPL and start of T20WC: 5 days
Where the team finished: Knocked out in Super 8s (bottom of the table)
How did India's campaign go?
Identical to the 2009 campaign, India once again were hit with the 'Sehwag blow' as the lofty right-hander missed out due to a shoulder injury which he suffered during IPL 2010 playing for Delhi Daredevils. Murali Vijay joined the squad as his replacement.
India once again started well with wins against Afghanistan and South Africa. Against the Proteas, Suresh Raina achieved the milestone of becoming the first Indian batter to score a century in T20 Internationals. India finished top of their group and qualified to the Super 8s along with South Africa.
India had to face Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka in the Super 8s respectively. Praveen Kumar got ruled out from the tournament mid-way due to injury, and Umesh Yadav replaced him in the squad.
In game one of the Super 8s, Australia hammered India with both bat and ball despite Rohit Sharma's unbeaten, valiant 79. In game two, Chris Gayle bashed Indian bowlers and smashed a staggering 98 which is still the highest score against India in a T20 World Cup game. The Gayle storm resulted in India losing and getting knocked out with a game remaining for the second year running. In the final game of the Super 8s, Chamara Kapugedera's heroic six on the final ball of the match helped Sri Lanka snatch a win from the Men in Blue and send them back home winless.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: UAE & Oman
Days between end of IPL and start of T20WC: 8 days
Where the team finished: Super 12 - Group Stage (third on the points table in Group 2)
How did India's campaign go?
Team India players came into this event after playing 25 days of cricket in UAE during the second half of IPL 2021. All players were already acclimated to the conditions, thus giving the team a slight edge over other sides, heading into the mega event.
All the advantage, though, went in the drain in the first game itself as Pakistan completely thumped the Men in Blue, handing them a 10-wicket loss. The Indian batters were not able to cope with Shaheen Afridi's pace and swing, and the bowlers were to taken to the cleaners.
After a seven-day break, India played New Zealand and were completely obliterated in the early stages with the top and middle-order both collapsing. This resulted in the side posting a below par 110 which New Zealand chased easily. The loss against the Kiwis meant that India needed to rely on other results in order to make it to the next round.
India went on to win the next three games against Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia but still failed to make it to the top two of their group, resulting in the team exiting the competition in the first round itself.
Has the IPL ever been publicly blamed by a team member for the side's poor performances?
Yes. In the aftermath of the side's horror show in the 2009 WT20, head coach Gary Kirsten admitted that 'IPL Fatigue' played a part in the team not being at its very best.
"Fatigue was definitely a factor, as were many other things. I don't want to use that as an excuse but it was a factor. We weren't an energetic team, like we were in New Zealand where the levels of energy were really good. We didn't get up to the same level on this tour," Kirsten said after the 2009 WT20, reported ESPNcricinfo.
"...the players have two days to go home, and then we come into the tournament without being able to connect with the players at all. We also had players who were carrying niggles into this tournament. We performed well below our potential and we've got to take the rap for that."
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