2014 - or when the perpetual runners up actually won

It took Sri Lanka seven years and Jackpot Bet Online four finals (2007, 2011 Cricket World Cups, 2009, Jackpot Bet Online 2012 World Twenty20) to finally shed their near-perpetual runner-up tag and claim their second world trophy. Powered by a solid half-century from the retiring Kumar Sangakkara, which overshadowed Payer of the Series Virat Kohli's 77, the Lasith Malinga-led side defeated India by six wickets at Mirpur in Bangladesh.

The win not only soothed the sting of regularly losing in finals, but was also the perfect T20 international farewell for Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. This was also the first World T20 to have 16 members, with associate nations competing in qualifiers. The participation of these teams received further impetus when Hong Kong and Nepal beat Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the preliminary round and Netherlands upset England in the main round.

However, the format has been reverted to to 12 teams for 2016, with the top eight teams getting direct entry.