Are you ready to dive into the adrenaline-fueled universe of cricket, a place where every tick of the clock is a heartbeat pounding with raw energy and endless possibilities? There’s been a game-changer that has truly rocked the boat, and that, folks, is the Women’s T20 Challenge. This grand slam of a tournament has flung open the doors to women’s cricket on the global stage, shining the spotlight on some truly extraordinary talent from every corner of the world. And today, we’re gonna tip our hats to the Titan teams that have taken home the coveted trophy, year after year. So, buckle up for a wild ride down memory lane as we revisit those victorious moments that have become legends in the history of the Women’s T20 Challenge. Let’s get down to it then. Shall we?
Women’s T20 Challenge All Winners List
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up |
| 2018 | Supernovas | Trailblazers |
| 2019 | Supernovas | Velocity |
| 2020 | Trailblazers | Supernovas |
| 2022 | Supernovas | Velocity |
1. Supernovas: Women’s T20 Challenge 2018 Winner
Back in 2018, women’s cricket took center stage with the first-ever Women’s T20 Challenge. This cricketing extravaganza was hosted at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a cricketing mecca, on May 22nd. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put together this exhibition match with the aim of pulling the limelight on women’s cricket, setting the stage for a future Women’s IPL. As the curtain-raiser for the IPL Qualifier 1, the battle of the willows was a nail-biter. The Supernovas, led by the stalwart Mithali Raj, clenched the title, pulling off a last-over victory by 3 wickets. On the other end of the pitch, the Trailblazers, captained by Smriti Mandhana, had set the scoreboard ticking to a target of 129 runs in the first innings. Suzie Bates from New Zealand had her moment in the sun, adding 37 runs to the party.
When the Supernovas took the field, they kept their eyes on the prize and chased down the target, ending the day at 130 in 20 overs. The team had its share of star turns with Danielle Wyatt, Harmanpreet Kaur, and skipper Mithali Raj chipping in with some valuable runs. Bates was on fire, not only racking up runs but also picking up 2 wickets for just 16 runs, earning her the Player of the Match title. Despite being a cracker of a match, it didn’t draw the crowds it deserved. The sparse turnout could have been due to the fans holding out for the IPL match scheduled for 7 pm. Still, the 2018 Women’s T20 Challenge left an imprint that won’t be forgotten anytime soon, lighting the path for the growth and popularity of women’s cricket in India.
2. Supernovas: Women’s T20 Challenge 2019 Winner
So, we’re throwing it back to 2019, when the Women’s T20 Challenge was in full swing. It was only the second time this cricket extravaganza was happening, but boy, did it level up! Instead of a one-off match, we had three feisty teams battling it out. And guess what, IPL Velocity made their debut this season, stirring the pot even more. They set up shop at the swanky Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, right around the same time as the 2019 IPL playoffs, so you bet the cricket fever was high. This T20 showdown was all anyone could talk about from the 6th to the 11th of May, 2019. The final match was nail-biting, heart-thumping stuff, with the Supernovas clinching the crown, bagging their second title in the Women’s T20 Challenge. They were up against IPL Velocity, and man, they put on quite the show. They outdid their rivals by four wickets, after choosing to field first, and then putting the brakes on Velocity at 121 runs in 20 overs.
The pitch threw them a curveball though, and Velocity’s killer bowling attack wasn’t helping. But that’s when Harmanpreet Kaur came in like a wrecking ball, smashing 51 runs off just 37 balls. Talk about a game-changer! The 2019 season was an absolute hit, with a whopping 71 million unique viewers tuning in from India alone. We’re talking about 2.20 billion minutes of viewership in India, folks. Now, that’s a testament to how women’s cricket is taking off. Each team had a go at two matches, with one win and one loss to their name. But it was Supernovas and Velocity who made it to the final, thanks to some quick number crunching on the run rate. The Supernovas were in top form, showing everyone how it’s done in the final. With this win, they not only took home the Women’s T20 Challenge Trophy but also proved they’re a force to be reckoned with in women’s T20 cricket. Talk about girl power!
3. Trailblazers: Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 Winner
Ah, the 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge, what a whirlwind of a cricket season that was! Season 3 had us all on the edge of our seats. It was supposed to kick off in the vibrant city of Jaipur in May 2020. But, as luck would have it, Miss Rona aka Corona decided to crash the party, and we had to take a rain check. But, hey, the cricket show must go on, right? So, they shifted the scene to the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE, and the tournament hit the ground running from November 4 to 9, 2020. We had three feisty teams battling it out in the group stages, and boy, it was a ride. The 2020 season was a blockbuster hit, with a whopping 47% increase in unique viewership in India from the last season. We’re talking about a mind-boggling 5.34 billion minutes of screen time in India, which was more than double the 2019 season. Talk about the cricket fever!
What made it even more special was the global flair brought in by Natthakan Chantam, who made her mark as the first Thai cricketer in the tourney. On the flip side, some overseas players had to sit it out because of a clash with the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia. The ticket to the final was decided by the net run rate. The Trailblazers and Supernovas emerged as the cream of the crop and headed for the big face-off. The Supernovas won the toss and chose to field, hoping to use it to their advantage. But it was Radha Yadav who truly lit up the match, nabbing an outstanding five wickets in her four overs and restricting the Trailblazers to 118 runs. Captain Smriti Mandhana held the fort for the Trailblazers, scoring a whopping 68 runs, setting a challenging target for the Supernovas. Despite their best efforts, the Supernovas fell short, managing only 102 runs.
4. Supernovas: Women’s T20 Challenge 2022 Winner
2022’s Women’s T20 Challenge was nothing short of a nail-biter, presenting a stage for some of the world’s most talented female cricketers to lock horns. This year marked the fourth season of this heart-throbbing contest, and oh boy, it didn’t disappoint! The Supernovas, outshining all competition, nabbed their third title in a final clash that could have easily been mistaken for a Hollywood thriller, narrowly beating IPL Velocity by just 4 runs. Imagine the suspense!
The tournament structure was simple and straight to the point, a group stage of three matches leading up to a grand finale. Out of the triad, Velocity was left with a bittersweet feeling, being the only ones yet to bathe in the glory of the championship hood. Deandra Dottin, a gem in the Supernovas’ crown, was a force to be reckoned with throughout the tournament, wielding both bat and ball with equal prowess. One of the highlights? She and Priya Punia wowed the crowd with a record-breaking opening stand, smashing a whopping 73 runs off just 57 balls. Talk about girl power! The final was no different, with Harmanpreet Kaur and Dottin coming together like a well-oiled machine to put up a tough 166-run target for Velocity.
Velocity wasn’t ready to back down though. Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia got off to a cracking start, but alas, the wicket tally started ticking up. Then came Simran Bahadur and Laura Wolvaardt with a 44-run partnership, giving Velocity a fresh breath of hope. As the last over loomed, with 17 runs needed for victory, the excitement was palpable. Wolvaardt slammed a sixer off the first ball, and hope flared anew. However, the finish line remained just out of reach, and they fell short by a heartbreaking 4 runs. In the end, it was the Supernovas’ time to shine. They hoisted the Women’s T20 Challenge trophy high, their faces glowing with the victory they had fought so hard for. A testament to their incredible grit and talent, this tournament was a true celebration of their sporting prowess.
Conclusion
And there you have it! The Women’s T20 Challenge has truly made its mark, sparking dreams in the hearts of young girls everywhere to grab a bat, seize the ball, and dare to dream big. Every single win, every single year, symbolizes not just a victory for the team but a triumph for women’s cricket as a whole. As we eagerly await the thrilling face-offs that future tournaments promise, there’s one thing we can say for sure, the spirit of the Women’s T20 Challenge is only getting fiercer, building a legacy that breaks down barriers and ignites a fire for the sport in hearts worldwide.
Passionate sports content writer, Rocky delves into the world of athletics with a keen eye for detail. With a background in journalism, he transforms moments on the field into compelling narratives that resonate with readers.
