When was the last time Australia were eliminated in T20 World Cup group stage?

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has produced one of the biggest shocks in the event’s history., as Mitchell Marsh-led Australia have failed to make it past the group stage after rain at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium ensured Zimbabwe’s match against Ireland was abandoned without a ball bowled. That washout handed Zimbabwe the point they needed to qualify for the Super 8s alongside Sri Lanka, consigning Australia to an early exit with just two points from their Group B campaign.

For a cricket powerhouse like Australia, early exits in global tournaments have been few and far between, until now. But the one in 2026 was a straight up disastrous campaign for the 2021 T20 World Cup champions. In their first three group-stage matches, they only managed to beat Ireland and lost to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, resulting in their exit from the group stages itself.

Ever since, one question is making rounds: when was the last time the Kangaroos were knocked out in this fashion in the T20 World Cup history? The remarkable outcome marks only the second time in T20 World Cup history that Australia has been knocked out in the group stage.

The only previous instance came way back in 2009 T20 World Cup in England under Ricky Ponting, when the Aussies lost both group matches to Sri Lanka and West Indies and finished at the bottom of their group table with zero points, failing to reach the Super 8s in a tournament eventually won by Pakistan.   

In the years since that early disappointment, Australia have been among the most consistent teams in the T20 format, even lifting the 2021 T20 World Cup title under Aaron Finch. They have rarely struggled in the first phase of major events, thanks to their depth in batting and bowling and a tradition of strong big-stage temperament.

But the 2026 edition will be remembered as an exception. A combination of unexpected defeats, notably a shock 23-run loss to Zimbabwe and then a comprehensive defeat to Sri Lanka sealed a rare end to the Australians’ World Cup journey.  

Now, it will be interesting to see in which direction does the Australian T20I team go. Because several senior pros like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Josh Hazlewood are ageing. And after such a disastrous performance, Cricket Australia would want to rebuild the team for a next T20 World Cup cycle.