2024 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: A Complete Timeline

The 2024 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, officially the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, brought together 20 teams across the United States and the West Indies from June 1 to June 29. It was the largest edition of the tournament, combining established cricket nations with ambitious associate teams and introducing the sport to new American audiences.

The competition delivered dramatic finishes from its opening match. Super overs, narrow run chases, rain-affected qualification battles and outstanding fast bowling shaped the group stage before the tournament moved into a tense Super Eight round.

India eventually lifted the trophy in Barbados after defeating South Africa by seven runs in a memorable final. The result ended India’s long wait for a men’s senior World Cup title and gave the team an unbeaten campaign.

Tournament Framework And Opening Fixtures

The tournament began on June 1 at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, where co-hosts USA defeated Canada by seven wickets. Aaron Jones produced a powerful unbeaten 94 from 40 balls, including 10 sixes, to lead the Americans to a successful chase of 195.

The next day, Namibia and Oman played the first tied match of the competition in Barbados. Namibia won the Super Over after both sides made 109, with David Wiese making an important contribution with bat and ball. The result immediately showed that the expanded format could produce high-pressure cricket between teams with very different tournament histories.

Twenty teams were divided into four groups of five. Each side played four matches in the first round, with the top two teams in every group advancing to the Super Eight stage. The United States, Canada, Namibia and Uganda were among the teams appearing in the tournament’s expanded field, while India, Australia, England, Pakistan and the West Indies carried the strongest pre-tournament expectations.

Group Stage Drama Across Two Continents

India opened its campaign on June 5 with an eight-wicket victory over Ireland in New York. Pakistan then suffered a major setback on June 6, losing to the United States in a Super Over at Dallas. The result became one of the defining surprises of the group stage and placed Pakistan under immediate pressure.

India defeated Pakistan by six runs in New York on June 9 in a low-scoring thriller. Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets and was named player of the match after India defended 119. The Nassau County surface made stroke-making difficult, and the contest became a clear example of how pitch conditions influenced the early games.

The United States continued its impressive run by defeating Canada and Pakistan before losing to India on June 12. A washout between the United States and Ireland on June 14 confirmed the co-host’s place in the Super Eight. Pakistan later beat Ireland, but its earlier defeat and the abandoned match left the 2022 finalists outside the next round.

The first-round outcomes can be compared across the four groups:

Group	Teams Advancing	Important Turning Point	Teams Eliminated
A	India, United States	India defended 119 against Pakistan	Pakistan, Canada, Ireland
B	Australia, England	Australia topped the group unbeaten	Scotland, Namibia, Oman
C	Afghanistan, West Indies	New Zealand lost to Afghanistan and the West Indies	New Zealand, Uganda, Papua New Guinea
D	South Africa, Bangladesh	South Africa finished unbeaten	Sri Lanka, Nepal, Netherlands

Super Eight Matches Change The Race

The Super Eight stage began on June 19, when South Africa defeated the United States by 18 runs in Antigua. Quinton de Kock’s aggressive fifty gave South Africa a strong platform, although the American side kept the match competitive until the closing overs.

England then beat the West Indies by eight wickets in Saint Lucia on June 20. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler controlled the chase, placing England in a strong position in Group 2. Later that day, India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in Bridgetown, with Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah helping the former champions begin their second phase with confidence.

The following fixtures created further separation. South Africa beat England by seven runs, while the West Indies defeated the United States by nine wickets. India overcame Bangladesh by 50 runs on June 22, and Afghanistan shocked Australia by 21 runs the next day. That Afghanistan victory was historic, as it gave the team its first win over Australia in a senior men’s World Cup match.

India sealed its semifinal place on June 24 by defeating Australia by 24 runs. Rohit Sharma struck 92 from 41 deliveries, including eight sixes, in one of the tournament’s most commanding innings. Afghanistan then completed its own qualification by beating Bangladesh in a rain-affected contest, eliminating Australia and creating a first-ever World Cup semifinal appearance for Afghanistan.

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Semifinals Produce Contrasting Victories

The first semifinal took place in Trinidad on June 26 between South Africa and Afghanistan. Afghanistan had reached the knockout stage after defeating New Zealand and Australia, but South Africa’s disciplined attack proved too strong. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada struck early, and Afghanistan was dismissed for only 56.

South Africa chased the target in 8.5 overs, winning by nine wickets. The victory ended a long history of disappointment in major tournaments and sent the Proteas into their first men’s senior World Cup final.

India and England met in the second semifinal on June 27 in Guyana. India posted 171 for 7, with Rohit Sharma making 57 and Suryakumar Yadav adding 47. England’s chase never developed because India’s spinners controlled the middle overs on a slow surface.

Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav shared six wickets, and England was bowled out for 103. India won by 68 runs, reaching its third T20 World Cup final and maintaining its unbeaten record in the competition.

India And South Africa Contest A Classic Final

The final was played at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on June 29. South Africa won the toss and chose to field, while India selected a familiar batting order led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

India lost early wickets, but Kohli rebuilt the innings with a measured 76 from 59 balls. Axar Patel changed the pace of the innings with 47 from 31 deliveries, and Shivam Dube added valuable late runs. India finished on 176 for 7, a competitive total on a pitch that rewarded accurate bowling.

South Africa appeared in control at 106 for 3 after 14 overs. Heinrich Klaasen made 52 from 27 balls and threatened to take the match away from India. Hardik Pandya dismissed Klaasen in the 17th over, however, and the contest shifted sharply.

David Miller was caught near the boundary by Suryakumar Yadav from a Hardik Pandya delivery in the final over. South Africa finished on 169 for 8, falling seven runs short. Pandya took three wickets, while Bumrah claimed two for 18 and produced another decisive spell at the most important stage.

The victory gave India its first T20 World Cup title since 2007. Kohli was named player of the match and announced his retirement from T20 internationals immediately afterward. Rohit Sharma made the same announcement after the final, while head coach Rahul Dravid ended his tenure with a world title. Jasprit Bumrah was selected as player of the tournament for his consistency and match-winning impact.

Matches Worth Revisiting

The tournament contained several games that explain why the 2024 edition remains one of the most memorable short-format World Cups. These matches are especially valuable for reviewing the competition’s turning points:

• United States vs Pakistan, June 6: A Super Over upset that transformed the outlook of Group A.
• India vs Pakistan, June 9: A tense six-run win shaped by Bumrah’s precision and a difficult New York pitch.
• Afghanistan vs Australia, June 23: A landmark victory that opened the path to Afghanistan’s semifinal qualification.
• India vs South Africa, June 29: A final decided by late wickets, boundary-fielding brilliance and exceptional death bowling.

The final also reflected the tournament’s broader character. Established teams faced genuine pressure from emerging nations, while new venues and unfamiliar conditions forced players to adjust quickly. The United States’ progress, Afghanistan’s semifinal run and the competitive group matches expanded the tournament’s global narrative beyond the traditional contenders.

Follow Bahria Sports for continuing cricket updates, match reports, tournament records and major international sports news. The 2024 campaign ended with India’s celebration in Barbados, but its influence will remain visible as T20 cricket reaches new audiences and more teams challenge the established order.