Players Who Won the Man of the Match Award in ICC T20 World Cup Finals

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup final is the biggest match in the tournament. One strong batting innings or one brilliant bowling spell can decide who becomes world champion.

Irfan Pathan, Shahid Afridi, Craig Kieswetter, Marlon Samuels, Kumar Sangakkara, Mitchell Marsh, Sam Curran, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are the players who have won the Man of the Match award in Men's T20 World Cup finals.

Marlon Samuels is the only player to win the award in two different T20 World Cup finals, doing it for West Indies in 2012 and 2016. Jasprit Bumrah is the latest winner after taking 4/15 against New Zealand in the 2026 final.

Man of the Match Winners in Every T20 World Cup Final

Every Men's T20 World Cup final has produced a clear match-winning performance. Batters have won most of the awards, but bowlers such as Irfan Pathan, Sam Curran and Jasprit Bumrah have also decided finals with the ball.

2007 – Irfan Pathan vs Pakistan

Irfan Pathan was the Man of the Match in the first Men's T20 World Cup final in 2007. India faced Pakistan at Johannesburg in a final that remained close until the last few balls.

India scored 157/5 after batting first. Gautam Gambhir led the innings with 75, while Rohit Sharma added important late runs.

Pakistan stayed in the chase, but Pathan produced an excellent spell through the middle overs. He removed Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Yasir Arafat and finished with 3/16 from four overs.

Those wickets stopped Pakistan from taking control of the chase.

Irfan Pathan's Spell Changed the 2007 Final

Pakistan had several dangerous hitters in the middle order.

Pathan did not allow them to settle.

His wicket of Shahid Afridi was especially important because Afridi could have changed the match quickly with his power hitting.

Pakistan still took the game to the final over, where Misbah-ul-Haq almost completed the chase. India eventually won by five runs when Sreesanth caught Misbah's attempted scoop off Joginder Sharma.

Pathan's three wickets and low economy rate earned him the first Man of the Match award in a Men's T20 World Cup final.

2009 – Shahid Afridi vs Sri Lanka

Shahid Afridi won the Man of the Match award in the 2009 T20 World Cup final after an excellent all-round performance against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka batted first at Lord's and made 138/6.

Afridi bowled four overs for only 20 runs and took the important wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan, who had been Sri Lanka's leading batter during the tournament.

Pakistan then needed 139 to win.

Afridi came to the crease with the chase still requiring control and produced the innings his team needed.

Afridi Scored an Unbeaten 54

Afridi scored 54 not out from 40 balls.

He attacked when the opportunity came but did not throw his wicket away.

Shoaib Malik stayed with him at the other end, and Pakistan reached the target with eight balls remaining.

The victory gave Pakistan their first Men's T20 World Cup title.

Afridi had also played an important role in the semi-final, making his final performance even more memorable.

Why Afridi's 2009 Final Was Special

Afridi influenced both innings.

He helped keep Sri Lanka's total under control with the ball and then finished the chase with the bat.

That is exactly what teams want from an all-rounder in a major final.

His 54 not out and 1/20 made him an easy choice for the Man of the Match award.

2010 – Craig Kieswetter vs Australia

Craig Kieswetter was named Man of the Match in the 2010 T20 World Cup final after scoring 63 against Australia.

Australia made 147/6 in Barbados.

England then lost Michael Lumb early, but Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen took control of the chase.

The pair added 111 runs and pushed Australia out of the match.

Kieswetter was the more aggressive batter and scored 63 from 49 balls.

Kieswetter Helped England Win Their First ICC Men's Trophy

Kieswetter hit seven fours and two sixes during his innings.

He attacked the Australian fast bowlers and kept the required rate under control.

By the time he was dismissed, England were very close to victory.

England reached the target with three overs remaining and won by seven wickets.

It was England's first men's ICC global trophy, making Kieswetter's innings one of the most important of his career.

2012 – Marlon Samuels vs Sri Lanka

Marlon Samuels won his first T20 World Cup final Man of the Match award in 2012 after scoring 78 against Sri Lanka.

The final was played in Colombo, and West Indies struggled badly at the start.

After ten overs, they were only 32/2.

Runs were very difficult to score, and Sri Lanka appeared to have complete control of the match.

Samuels then changed everything.

Samuels Attacked Lasith Malinga

Samuels had scored only 26 from his first 37 balls.

Instead of panicking, he stayed at the crease and waited for his chance.

He then attacked Lasith Malinga, one of the best T20 fast bowlers in the world.

Samuels hit several sixes and finished with 78 from 56 balls, including six maximums.

His late attack helped West Indies reach 137/6.

On a difficult pitch, that became a strong total.

West Indies Defended 137

Sri Lanka were playing at home and still looked capable of chasing the target.

West Indies' bowlers kept taking wickets, however, and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 101.

West Indies won by 36 runs and lifted their first Men's T20 World Cup trophy.

Samuels' innings was easily the biggest batting performance of the final and earned him the Man of the Match award.

2014 – Kumar Sangakkara vs India

Kumar Sangakkara won the Man of the Match award in the 2014 T20 World Cup final after scoring an unbeaten 52 against India.

India batted first in Dhaka and made 130/4.

Virat Kohli scored 77, but Sri Lanka bowled very well in the final overs and stopped India from building a bigger total.

Sri Lanka then lost wickets regularly during the chase and were 78/4.

Sangakkara stayed calm.

Sangakkara Finished the Chase

Sangakkara scored 52 not out from 35 balls.

He hit six fours and one six and controlled the chase when Sri Lanka needed experience.

This was also Sangakkara's final T20 international.

Sri Lanka reached 134/4 in 17.5 overs and won by six wickets.

After losing several ICC finals in previous years, Sri Lanka finally won a global title.

Sangakkara finished his T20I career with a World Cup trophy and a Man of the Match award in the final.

Most Player of the Match Awards in Finals: Sangakkara’s Match-Winning Innings

Sangakkara had not scored heavily earlier in the tournament.

The final was therefore the perfect time for him to produce his best innings.

Sri Lanka still needed a calm batter after losing four wickets, and Sangakkara made sure the chase did not fall apart.

His experience under pressure was the difference.

2016 – Marlon Samuels vs England

Marlon Samuels became the first and only player to win the Man of the Match award in two Men's T20 World Cup finals when he scored 85 not out against England in 2016.

England made 155/9 at Eden Gardens.

West Indies then had a terrible start.

They lost Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons for only 11 runs.

At 11/3, the chase looked in serious trouble.

Samuels stayed at the crease and slowly brought West Indies back into the match.

Samuels Scored 85 Not Out

Samuels made 85 not out from 66 balls.

He hit eight fours and two sixes.

The innings was important because he had to rebuild first and attack later.

West Indies reached the final over needing 19 runs.

Samuels was at the non-striker's end, but Carlos Brathwaite was on strike.

What happened next became one of the most famous moments in cricket history.

Carlos Brathwaite Hit Four Straight Sixes

Ben Stokes bowled the final over for England.

Brathwaite hit the first four balls for six.

West Indies won the match with two balls remaining and became the first team to win the Men's T20 World Cup twice.

Brathwaite produced the unforgettable finish, but Samuels received the Man of the Match award because his 85 not out had kept West Indies alive when the top order collapsed.

Samuels remains the only two-time T20 World Cup final Player of the Match winner.

2021 – Mitchell Marsh vs New Zealand

Mitchell Marsh won the Player of the Match award in the 2021 T20 World Cup final after scoring an unbeaten 77 against New Zealand.

New Zealand batted first in Dubai and made 172/4.

Kane Williamson played a brilliant innings of 85, meaning Australia needed their highest chase in a T20 World Cup final at the time.

Australia lost Aaron Finch early.

Marsh entered at No. 3 and immediately attacked.

Marsh Hit His First Ball for Six

Marsh did not spend several overs getting settled.

He hit his first delivery for six and kept the pressure on New Zealand.

David Warner made 53, and the pair built the partnership Australia needed.

After Warner was dismissed, Marsh stayed until the end.

He finished with 77 not out from 50 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes.

Glenn Maxwell completed the chase alongside him.

Australia Won Their First Men's T20 World Cup

Australia reached 173/2 in 18.5 overs and won by eight wickets.

It was their first Men's T20 World Cup title.

Marsh's unbeaten 77 was the highest score by an Australian in the match and came under the pressure of a World Cup final chase.

It remains one of his greatest international innings.

2022 – Sam Curran vs Pakistan

Sam Curran was named Player of the Match in the 2022 T20 World Cup final after taking 3/12 against Pakistan.

Pakistan batted first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Curran struck early by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan and later removed Shan Masood and Mohammad Nawaz.

He finished with outstanding figures of 3/12 from four overs.

Pakistan could manage only 137/8.

Curran Made Scoring Difficult at the Death

Curran's strength throughout the 2022 tournament was his use of slower balls and changes of pace.

He did the same thing in the final.

Pakistan's batters found it difficult to score freely against him, especially during the later overs when they needed to accelerate.

England chased the target with five wickets remaining, with Ben Stokes finishing unbeaten on 52.

Curran's bowling had given England the platform for the victory.

Sam Curran Won Two Major Awards

Curran was not only named Player of the Final.

He was also named Player of the Tournament.

He finished the competition with 13 wickets.

His performances at the death became one of the main reasons England won their second Men's T20 World Cup title.

2024 – Virat Kohli vs South Africa

Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award in the 2024 T20 World Cup final after scoring 76 against South Africa.

India chose to bat first in Barbados.

They started quickly but soon lost Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav.

India were 34/3 and needed someone to rebuild the innings.

Kohli changed his normal attacking approach and focused on protecting his wicket.

Kohli Scored 76 From 59 Balls

Kohli built an important partnership with Axar Patel.

Once India had recovered, he increased the scoring rate in the final part of his innings.

Kohli finished with 76 from 59 balls, including six fours and two sixes.

India reached 176/7.

It was the highest total set in a Men's T20 World Cup final at that time.

India Won a Final-Over Thriller

South Africa came very close to the target.

Heinrich Klaasen's quick fifty put them in a strong position, but India's bowlers produced an excellent final few overs.

Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya turned the match around.

South Africa finished on 169/8.

India won by seven runs and lifted their second Men's T20 World Cup trophy.

Kohli was named Player of the Match in his final T20 international.

Kohli Ended His T20I Career With a World Cup

The final made Kohli's innings even more special.

He had struggled for runs earlier in the 2024 tournament.

His best performance came when India needed it most.

After receiving the Player of the Match award, Kohli confirmed that the final was his last T20 international for India.

He therefore finished his T20I career as a world champion.

2026 – Jasprit Bumrah vs New Zealand

Jasprit Bumrah is the latest player to win the Player of the Match award in a Men's T20 World Cup final. He took 4/15 against New Zealand in the 2026 final.

India batted first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and produced a huge total of 255/5.

Sanju Samson scored 89 from 46 balls, while Ishan Kishan also made an important half-century.

New Zealand therefore needed 256 to win.

On a good batting pitch, India still needed early wickets.

Bumrah delivered them.

Jasprit Bumrah Took 4/15

Bumrah removed important New Zealand batters and never allowed the chase to gain control.

He finished with 4 wickets for only 15 runs from four overs, his best T20 international bowling figures.

New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

India won the final by 96 runs, one of the biggest winning margins in a Men's T20 World Cup final.

Bumrah received the Player of the Match award for his brilliant spell.

Why Bumrah Won the Award Ahead of Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson had played an excellent innings of 89, which became the highest individual score in a Men's T20 World Cup final.

However, Bumrah's 4/15 completely broke New Zealand's chase.

He gave away fewer than four runs per over despite bowling against a team chasing 256.

His ability to take wickets and stop boundaries made his spell the match-defining performance.

Samson was later named Player of the Tournament, while Bumrah received the Player of the Final award.

Marlon Samuels Holds a Unique T20 World Cup Final Record

Marlon Samuels is the only player to win the Player of the Match award in two Men's T20 World Cup finals.

He first won it in 2012 with 78 against Sri Lanka.

Four years later, he scored 85 not out against England and won the award again.

Both performances helped West Indies win the trophy.

No other player has won the final award twice.

Players Who Won Final Player of the Match With Batting

Most final awards have gone to batters.

Craig Kieswetter, Marlon Samuels, Kumar Sangakkara, Mitchell Marsh and Virat Kohli all won mainly because of important batting performances.

Shahid Afridi also won after an all-round performance that included an unbeaten fifty.

These innings came in different situations. Some were successful chases, while others helped teams recover after losing early wickets.

Bowlers Who Won Player of the Match in T20 World Cup Finals

Three bowlers have won mainly through their bowling performances:

Bumrah's four wickets are the most taken by a Player of the Match winner in a Men's T20 World Cup final.

Curran conceded the fewest runs of the three.

Indian Players Who Won Man of the Match in T20 World Cup Finals

India have had three different final Player of the Match winners:

All three performances came in title-winning finals.

Pathan helped India win the first edition, Kohli played the key batting innings in 2024, and Bumrah led the bowling in India's successful 2026 title defence.

West Indies Players Who Won the Award

West Indies have only one player on the list, but he appears twice.

Marlon Samuels won in both 2012 and 2016.

West Indies won both finals.

His record is unique because no other player has been the best performer in two separate Men's T20 World Cup finals.

Player of the Match vs Player of the Tournament

The two awards should not be confused.

Player of the Match is awarded for the best performance in the final itself.

Player of the Tournament is based on performances across the full competition.

For example, in 2026 Jasprit Bumrah was Player of the Match in the final, but Sanju Samson was Player of the Tournament.

In 2022, Sam Curran won both awards.

Has Every Final Man of the Match Winner Been From the Winning Team?

Yes. Through the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, every Player of the Match in the final has come from the team that won the trophy.

That is understandable because the award usually goes to the player who had the biggest impact on the result.

In close finals such as 2007 and 2024, several players had strong cases, but the award still went to someone from the winning side.

Best Batting Performance by a Final Man of the Match Winner

Marlon Samuels' 85 not out in 2016 is the highest score by a player who won the final Man of the Match award.

Mitchell Marsh's 77 not out in 2021, Samuels' 78 in 2012 and Virat Kohli's 76 in 2024 are also among the best.

Sanju Samson scored 89 in the 2026 final, but Jasprit Bumrah won the match award for his 4/15.

This shows that the highest score does not automatically win Player of the Match.

Best Bowling Performance by a Final Player of the Match Winner

Jasprit Bumrah's 4/15 in the 2026 final is the best wicket-taking performance by a Men's T20 World Cup final Player of the Match winner.

Irfan Pathan took 3/16 in 2007, while Sam Curran took 3/12 in 2022.

All three spells helped their teams win the trophy.

Bowling four overs under the pressure of a World Cup final is difficult, which makes these performances especially valuable.

FAQs

Who won the Man of the Match award in the 2007 T20 World Cup final?

Irfan Pathan won the award after taking 3/16 against Pakistan.

Who won Man of the Match in the 2009 T20 World Cup final?

Shahid Afridi won it after scoring 54 not out and taking 1/20 against Sri Lanka.

Who won Player of the Match in the 2010 T20 World Cup final?

Craig Kieswetter won the award after scoring 63 against Australia.

Who won Man of the Match in the 2012 T20 World Cup final?

Marlon Samuels won the award after scoring 78 against Sri Lanka.

Who won Player of the Match in the 2014 T20 World Cup final?

Kumar Sangakkara was named Player of the Match after scoring 52 not out against India.

Who won Man of the Match in the 2016 T20 World Cup final?

Marlon Samuels won his second final award after scoring 85 not out against England.

Who won Player of the Match in the 2021 T20 World Cup final?

Mitchell Marsh won after scoring 77 not out against New Zealand.

Who won Player of the Match in the 2022 T20 World Cup final?

Sam Curran won after taking 3/12 against Pakistan.

Who won Man of the Match in the 2024 T20 World Cup final?

Virat Kohli won the award for his 76 against South Africa.

Who won Player of the Match in the 2026 T20 World Cup final?

Jasprit Bumrah won the award after taking 4/15 against New Zealand.

Who has won the most Man of the Match awards in T20 World Cup finals?

Marlon Samuels is the only player to win the award twice, in 2012 and 2016.

Sources

• ICC – Irfan Pathan: Player of the Match in the 2007 Final
  View ICC profile on Irfan Pathan's 2007 final performance