3 T20 World Cup records that can never be broken

With the 2026 T20 World Cup set to get underway on 7 February, attention naturally turns to the records that define the tournament’s legacy and a few that are almost certain to remain untouched. Although 20-over cricket is the youngest format in international cricket, it has already delivered moments of such intensity and scale that it appears resistant to time. Unlike Tests or ODIs, where sustained excellence often shapes greatness, T20 cricket thrives on impact, where a single innings, a brief spell, or even one over can permanently reshape the record books.

As the modern game continues to evolve toward greater parity driven by stronger associate teams, deeper and more versatile batting line-ups, advanced analytics, and narrowing skill gaps, the likelihood of extreme statistical feats being repeated has reduced significantly. Many of the most eye-catching records were forged in a different phase of the format’s development, under conditions that are increasingly rare in today’s highly balanced and strategically refined T20 landscape.

Here are three T20 World Cup records that may never be broken

3. Sri Lanka’s 172-run victory vs Kenya, 2007

During the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, Sri Lanka registered the most one-sided victory in T20I history, dismantling Kenya by a staggering margin of 172 runs. Batting first, Sri Lanka amassed 260 for six a total that felt almost unfathomable in 2007, when teams were still learning how to pace T20 innings and power-hitting at scale was not yet the norm.

Sanath Jayasuriya led the assault with a blistering 88 off 44 balls, while Mahela Jayawardene struck 65 from just 27 deliveries. Jehan Mubarak added late impetus with 46 off 13 balls, pushing the total beyond Kenya’s reach long before the second innings began. In response, Kenya folded for 88, undone by pace, movement, and relentless pressure as Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, and Tillakaratne Dilshan claimed two wickets apiece.

What renders this record virtually untouchable is not just the scale of the margin but the environment in which it occurred. Early T20 cricket featured a pronounced gulf between full-member nations and associates. Today, associate teams play more international fixtures, benefit from improved domestic structures, and are tactically far better equipped.

2. Yuvraj Singh’s 12-ball fifty, 2007

If dominance in T20 cricket can be measured in minutes rather than hours, Yuvraj Singh redefined the scale in Durban during the 2007 World T20. Walking in with clear intent, Yuvraj reached his half-century in just 12 balls, a record that remains unmatched nearly two decades later. The innings famously included six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad, instantly elevating the knock into cricketing folklore.

Yuvraj finished with 58 off 16 balls, striking seven sixes as India surged to 218 for four. The match itself carried added narrative weight following a verbal exchange between Yuvraj and Andrew Flintoff earlier in the innings, lending an edge that intensified the moment. Contributions from Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag ensured India capitalised fully before eventually securing an 18-run victory.

Scoring 50 off 12 deliveries requires not just exceptional hitting but a near-total breakdown in bowling execution – something elite teams rarely permit. Yuvraj’s innings stands less as a benchmark and more as an anomaly shaped by circumstance, emotion, and flawless timing.

1. Lockie Ferguson’s four maiden overs, 2024

In a format dominated by run rates and boundary percentages, Lockie Ferguson produced one of the most improbable bowling performances in T20 history. During the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Papua New Guinea, Ferguson delivered four consecutive maiden overs, finishing with figures of 4-4-0-3.

The wickets of Assad Vala, Charles Amini, and Chad Soper came without Ferguson conceding a single run  a statistical rarity in a format built around constant scoring. His spell eclipsed the previous World Cup benchmark set by Canada’s Saad Bin Zafar, who recorded figures of 4-4-0-2 in 2021, setting a new standard for bowling economy on the global stage.

This record is unlikely to be challenged because it directly contradicts T20 dynamics. Batters today are encouraged to attack regardless of risk, making scoreless overs increasingly rare. Flat pitches, deeper batting line-ups, and tactical freedom further reduce the possibility of sustained dot-ball pressure.