The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup has barely settled in, and already it is rewriting history. Zimbabwe’s breathtaking 23-run victory over Australia in Colombo, Blessing Muzarabani claiming 4/17, the best bowling figures for Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup history, served notice that no giant is safe on this stage.
And Zimbabwe is not alone in making the tournament tremble. A South Africa vs Afghanistan contest that stretched to a mind-bending double super over, and a heart-stopping England vs Nepal clash that went to the final ball, have cemented 2026 as the edition where lower-ranked nations refused to be spectators.
These moments do not merely surprise; they define what makes the T20 World Cup the most electric event in cricket. Lets take a look at some of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup History.
Upsets at a Glance
| # | Winner | Defeated | Edition / Venue | Margin / Method | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zimbabwe (2026 NEW) | Australia | 2026 – Colombo RPS | Won by 23 runs | B. Muzarabani 4/17 |
| 2 | USA | Pakistan | 2024 – Dallas | Super Over (18 vs 13) | Saurabh Netravalkar |
| 3 | Ireland | England | 2022 – Melbourne | 5 runs (DLS) | Lorcan Tucker |
| 4 | Namibia | Sri Lanka | 2022 – Geelong | Won by 55 runs | 4 bowlers – 2 wkts each |
| 5 | Afghanistan | West Indies | 2016 – India | Won by 6 runs | Najibullah Zadran 48(40) |
| 6 | Netherlands | England | 2009 – Lord’s | Won on the final ball | Tom de Grooth 49(30) |
1. Zimbabwe Beat Australia in 2026 T20 World Cup (Colombo RPS)
Sent in under overcast skies in Colombo, Zimbabwe’s pace battery dismantled Australia’s top order with surgical precision. Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans struck early, Green and Tim Davies both bagged ducks, Travis Head dragged one back onto the stumps, leaving Australia a reeling 29/4.
Zimbabwe posted a commanding 169/2, and despite a 77-run fifth-wicket stand between Renshaw (65) and Maxwell (31) briefly threatening a comeback, Ryan Burl’s crucial wicket of Maxwell and Muzarabani’s return spell – finishing with 4/17, the best-ever bowling figures for Zimbabwe in T20 WC history – sealed a historic 23-run victory. Zimbabwe now holds a 100% win record against Australia in Men’s T20 World Cups, standing joint-top of Group B.
- Muzarabani 4/17 – Zimbabwe’s best-ever T20 WC bowling figures
- Zimbabwe holds a 100% win record vs Australia in T20 World Cups
- ZIM 169/2 – AUS 146 all out -Won by 23 runs
2. USA Beat Pakistan in 2024 T20 World Cup (Dallas)
In their first-ever T20I meeting, the USA boldly bowled Pakistan out for exactly 159. The hosts matched that target to the run, forcing a Super Over in a ground that had never hosted international cricket before.
USA’s batters hammered 18 off the Super Over; Pakistan could only manage 13 in reply. The result sent seismic waves across the cricketing world: a country where cricket is barely a blip on the sporting radar had defeated a two-time world champion. It marked the USA’s official arrival on the global stage and handed Pakistan a group exit they never recovered from.
- Super Over: USA 18 – PAK 13
- First-ever USA vs Pakistan T20I
- PAK 159 · USA 159 (Tied) – Super Over decider
- Pakistan eliminated from the group stage
3. Ireland Beat England in 2022 T20 World Cup (Melbourne)
History has a habit of repeating itself for Ireland and England. Rain had denied Ireland a famous upset in the Caribbean in 2010, but Melbourne 2022 delivered everything the earlier contest couldn’t.
Ireland posted 157 all out from 19.2 overs in front of a huge crowd. When the heavens opened with England on 105/5 in the 15th over, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method handed Ireland a stunning five-run victory. England were behind par and ran out of overs to recover. It remains the only rain-affected upset on this list.
- Won via DLS method by 5 runs
- IRE 157 all out · ENG 105/5 in 15 overs
- England knocked below DLS par score at rain interruption
- Ireland’s second major T20 WC upset against England
4. Namibia Beat Sri Lanka in 2022 T20 World Cup (Geelong)
In front of 16,000 supporters at Geelong, Namibia produced one of the most complete team bowling performances in T20 World Cup history. After posting a competitive 163, four Namibian bowlers, each claiming exactly two wickets, reduced Sri Lanka, the 2014 T20 World Cup champions, to 108 all out in 19 overs.
The top-order collapse was swift and absolute. A 55-run victory margin against a team of Sri Lanka’s pedigree is almost unthinkable, yet Namibia achieved it with discipline that belied their associate-nation status.
- Won by 55 runs – emphatic margin
- 4 bowlers each claimed 2 wickets – a unique collective effort
- NAM 163 · SL 108 all out
- Sri Lanka are the 2014 T20 World Cup Champions
5. Afghanistan Beat West Indies in 2016 T20 World Cup (India)
The West Indies went on to lift the 2016 trophy, but not before Afghanistan gave them the fright of their campaign. Najibullah Zadran anchored Afghanistan’s innings with a composed 48 off 40 balls, helping the side to 123/7 batting first.
Afghanistan’s bowlers held their nerve, restricting the star-studded Caribbean lineup to 117/8, six runs short. It remains arguably the most unexpected result given the gulf in talent on paper, and proves that in T20 cricket, no total is ever safe.
- Won by 6 runs
- Najibullah Zadran 48(40) – key innings
- AFG 123/7 · WI 117/8
- West Indies recovered to win the 2016 title
6. Netherlands Beat England in 2009 T20 World Cup (Lord’s)
At the most iconic cricket ground on Earth, the very first T20 World Cup witnessed one of its most jaw-dropping upsets. England posted a respectable 163 batting first, a total that on any given day would have been beyond a Dutch side making their debut on this stage.
Yet the Netherlands chased it down on the final ball, and an overthrow gave the batters just enough time to scramble back for a crucial second run in dramatic scenes. Tom de Grooth was the hero, striking 49 from just 30 balls. England’s home fans at Lord’s were left in stunned silence.
- Won on the final ball – an overthrow decided the match
- Tom de Grooth 49(30) – Player of the Match
- ENG 163 · NED 164 in their maiden T20 WC appearance
- Set the template for every underdog story that followed
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Conclusion: The 2026 Zimbabwe vs Australia Upset Adds a New Chapter
The T20 World Cup was never just a tournament for the powerful; it was always a stage built for the brave. From Tom de Grooth’s final-ball heroics at Lord’s in 2009 to Blessing Muzarabani tearing through Australia’s batting lineup in Colombo in 2026, the thread connecting every upset on this list is the same: preparation, belief, and the refusal to be intimidated by reputation.
These are not flukes. They are statements. As the format continues to grow and associate nations invest deeper in their programmes, one thing is certain: the next giant has already begun sharpening its sword. Nobody is safe.
