Lighting up the big stage: A look at Player of the Tournament winners in ICC Men's T20 World Cup history
The big players often come to the forefront on the grandest stage, and going back through the past winners of the Player of the Tournament awards, the list reads like a who's who of cricket.
Here we take a look at each past winner and their performances that led to the accolade.
Shahid Afridi (2007 T20 World Cup)
Shahid Afridi earned the moniker of 'Boom Boom' for his destructive abilities with the bat in hand. But during the inaugural edition of the tournament in South Africa, it was his performances with the ball that grabbed all the headlines.
Afridi was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, picking up 12 scalps at 15.66.
He was Pakistan's main strike bowler with his quick leg-spin, but hurt opposition significantly with his miserly economy of 6.71. His best performance came against Scotland, with figures of 4/19.
Afridi also scored 91 runs in 7 matches, with a high score of 46. His performances helped Pakistan make it to the final, where they were beaten by arch-rivals India in a late thriller.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (2009 T20 World Cup)
Tillakaratne Dilshan was by far the most destructive batter during the 2009 T20 World Cup in England. Opening the batting, Dilshan got his sides off to some fiery starts, playing some audacious strokes. The 'Dilscoop' – his trademark scoop shot, was the talk of the town during the tournament.
Dilshan ended it as the leading run-scorer, with 317 runs in seven matches. His runs came at a healthy 52.83 and a strike rate of 144.74. Dilshan scored three half-centuries in the tournament, with his best score of 96* coming against West Indies in the sem-final.
Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, Sri Lanka fell short at the final hurdle losing to their Asian rivals Pakistan in the final.
Tillakaratne Dilshan put on an exhibition with the bat in the 2009 ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final against West Indies. Watch the innings here!
Kevin Pietersen (2010 T20 World Cup)
The mercurial England batter always reserved his best for the big stage and the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean saw KP at his close to his peak.
Pietersen was the second-highest run-scorer in the West Indies, scoring 248 runs in six matches at an average of 62. Pietersen scored at a healthy strike-rate of 137.77 throughout the tournament, while also notching up two half-centuries.
His highest score of 73* came against Pakistan and he also made a crucial contribution of 47 in the final against Australia as England won their first World Cup trophy.
England lifting trophy over old enemy
Shane Watson (2012 T20 World Cup)
The brilliance of Shane Watson was on full display during the 2012 edition of the tournament in Sri Lanka. The Australia all-rounder again showcased why he was such a fearsome prospect, both with the bat and ball for Australia.
Watson ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer and the second-highest wicket-taker.
Opening the batting, Watson was at his destructive best, scoring 249 runs in six matches. His runs came at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 150, and he scored three half-centuries in the process.
Watson's clever variations with the ball also reaped great rewards on the slow pitches of Sri Lanka as he scalped up 11 wickets at an average of 16 and an economy of 6.83.
His exploits though could only help Australia reach the semifinals, where they fell short against eventual champions West Indies.
Virat Kohli (2014 T20 World Cup)
The Indian batting maestro was at his majestic best during the 2014 edition of the tournament in Bangladesh. Be it setting a target or chasing them down, there was no stopping Kohli.
The batter plundered 319 runs in only six matches. His runs came at a staggering average of 106.33 and a strike rate of 129.14. Kohli also scored four half-centuries in the tournament, consistently berating opposition bowlers.
Despite his best efforts, India could not get their hands on a second ICC Men's T20 World Cup Trophy. They were beaten by Sri Lanka in the final, clinching their maiden T20 World Cup triumph.
Virat Kohli class too good for South Africa in Semi 72 off 44 balls in Man of Tournament effort
Virat Kohli (2016 T20 World Cup)
Kohli became the only player to win back-to-back Player of the Tournament awards in ICC Men's T20 World Cups after peaking at the 2016 event.
Kohli played five matches in the tournament, scoring 273 runs. Those runs came at a stunning average of 136.50, while he also improved his strike rate from the previous edition (146.77).
He scored three half-centuries, with knocks of 89* against West Indies and 82* against Australia being the highlights. The knock against Australia, in particular, was crucial, the batter single-handedly taking India through in a difficult chase in the quarter-finals.
India would fall short in the semis, losing to eventual champions West Indies in the semis.
During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2016, Mohali was host to a Virat Kohli masterclass.
David Warner (2021 T20 World Cup)
The fiery Australian opener was back to his devastating best during the tournament in UAE and Oman in 2021. He was a constant rock at the top of the order, as Australia would finally clinch the coveted prize.
Warner was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament (behind Babar Azam), scoring 289 runs in seven matches at 48.16. He struck at 146.70 and notched up three half-centuries.
One of his three fifties came in the final against New Zealand, as Australia chased down a target of 173 to lift the trophy.