India goes into their match against Oman knowing that, in the context of the Asia Cup, it is a dead rubber encounter. But in the grand scheme of things, it is anything but unimportant. India's T20I game tonight is their 250th game in the format. The Men in Blue became the 2nd fastest team to reach the 250 T20I games landmark, only behind rivals Pakistan, whose T20 matches count currently stands at 275.
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The Indian cricket team has come a long way since playing its first-ever T20 game against South Africa on December 1, 2006. That game ended in a thrilling fashion with India winning by six wickets with one ball remaining. What was once the most ridiculed format of the game has now exploded and is perhaps the most exciting format of the game.
Out of the 249 T20I games that India has been a part of, they have won 171 matches, lost 71, tied 1 and have had 7 matches with no result. They have a win percentage of 68.4%, which remains the highest amongst all the full-member cricketing nations. During this timeframe, they have clinched the ICC T20 World Cup twice and are the reigning Champions of the World in this format.
Pakistan is the only team to have played more games in the shortest format, having played 275, out of which they have won 158 and lost 110, with 7 matches with no result. The 2009 T20 World Cup champions have a win percentage of 57.45%.
The next three teams with the highest number of T20I games under their belts are New Zealand with 235, West Indies with 228 and Australia with 211.
New Zealand have won 125, lost 102, tied 1 and has 7 matches with no result. Their Neighbours and 2021 T20 World Cup champions Australia, have won 120 games, lost 87 and had 4 no results.
The only other team with 2 T20 World Cups amongst the top 5 with the most T20Is played, the West Indies, have won 97, lost 120, and 11 matches have seen no result.
