T20 World Cup 2024: 3 biggest team rivalries to watch out for

The highly anticipated upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies is set to commence on June 1, 2024.  For the first time in the history of the T20 World Cup, the tournament will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D.

Meanwhile, the fans and the experts of the game are eager to witness some of the biggest team rivalries in the history of the T20 World Cup.

Here we’ll have a look at the 3 biggest team rivalries to watch out for in the upcoming 9th edition of the T20 World Cup.

Here’s a look at 3 biggest team rivalries to watch out for in T20 WC 2024:

3. Australia vs New Zealand

One of the biggest rivalries in the history of the T20 World Cup is between the two top teams, Australia and New Zealand; it is also known as the ‘Oceania rivalry’ as both the teams are from the same continent. However, the Blackcaps have an upper hand over the Aussies in this rivalry.

Both teams have played 3 matches against each other in the history of the tournament, including two league matches and the Final of the T20 World Cup 2021. Except for the T20 World Cup 2021 won by Australia, New Zealand have won two matches, taking a lead of one match against the 2021 World T20 champion Aussies.

Here’s a look at the head-to-head records of AUS vs NZ in T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup 2022, Match 13 – NZ won by 89 runs – Sydney

T20 World Cup 2021, Final – Australia won by 8 wickets – Dubai

T20 World Cup 2016, Match 17 – NZ won by 8 runs – Dharamsala

2. South Africa vs Netherlands

It might sound weird to most of the fans and experts that a strong team like South Africa have a rivalry in the T20 World Cup with an associate team like the Netherlands. But it is true to some extent when it comes to looking at the records of face-offs between both the teams either in the T20 World Cup or the ODI World Cup.

Speaking of the T20 World Cup specifically, SA and the Netherlands have faced each other on two occasions and both teams have won one match each. Interestingly, South Africa won that one match by a very narrow margin of only 6 runs. So, it can be said this rivalry ranks in the second spot while taking about the 3 biggest team rivalries in the history of the T20 World Cup.

Here’s a look at the head-to-head records of SA vs NED in T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup 2022, Match 40 – NED won by 13 runs – Adelaide

T20 World Cup 2014, Match 21 – SA won by 6 runs – Chittagong

1. India vs Pakistan

Probably, the biggest cricketing rivalry across all formats, alongside the ‘ages-old’ England vs Australia rivalry, the India vs Pakistan rivalry always keeps the cricketing world still on its feet whenever both teams take each other in any ICC tournament, be it the T20 World Cup or the ODI World Cup.

Talking about the rivalry of both teams in the T20 World Cup, both teams have taken on each other on 7 occasions since the inaugural edition of the tournament 17 years back in 2007, including the historic Final of the T20 World Cup 2007. India have completely dominated their arch-rivals Pakistan in this rivalry as the men in blue have won 6 matches out of 7 games both teams have played against each other.  On the other hand, Pakistan have won only on one occasion in this rivalry. So, the high-octane clash on June 9 between India and Pakistan in New York in T20 WC 2024 is going to be one of the most watched fixtures of the tournament.

Here's a look at the head-to-head records IND vs PAK in the T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup 2022, Match 16 – IND won by 4 wickets – Melbourne

T20 World Cup 2021, Match 16 – PAK won by 10 wickets – Dubai

T20 World Cup 2016, Match 19 – IND won by 6 wickets – Kolkata

T20 World Cup 2014, Match 13 – IND won by 7 wickets – Dhaka

T20 World Cup 2012, Match 20 – IND won by 8 wickets – Colombo

T20 World Cup 2007, Final – IND won by 5 runs – Johannesburg

T20 World Cup 2007, Match 10 – IND won in bowl-out after scores were tied