4 Major ICC tournaments & their first winners
Clive Lloyd lifts the ODI World Cup 1975 trophy with teammates (Source: @windiescricket)
Published - 07 Aug 2026, 06:04 AM• Read time - 3 mins
Winning the inaugural edition of an ICC tournament is a special achievement for any team. The first winners of every tournament not only lift the trophy but also etch their names in the history books as the inaugural champions.
The ICC has always come up with new and exciting tournaments in every era in line with the demands of its wide fanbase. The first editions of a tournament mark the beginning of a new chapter in cricket and go on to transform the game like never before.
Here's a look at the first teams to win every major ICC multi-national tournament and how they achieved the feat:
World Test Championship (New Zealand, 2021)
After a rich 144-year history of Test cricket, New Zealand were crowned the first-ever champions of sport’s oldest format, winning the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship after defeating India by eight wickets in the final played in Southampton in 2021.
Kane Williamson's side outplayed India in a rain-marred final, using the challenging, seam-friendly conditions to their advantage. Kyle Jamieson emerged as the game-changer for the Kiwis, scalping seven wickets across the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
The victory ended New Zealand's 21-year drought for an ICC title after their Champions Trophy victory in 2000, which also came after beating India in the final.
ICC T20 World Cup (India, 2007)
India scripted history by winning the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 under the leadership of MS Dhoni, who transformed the nation's cricket in the years to come. In a blockbuster final in Johannesburg, India edged past arch-rivals Pakistan by a narrow margin of five runs to script a historic win.
Gautam Gambhir top-scored with a crucial innings of 75 (54), while Joginder Sharma held his nerve in the thrilling final over as Misbah-ul-Haq's miscued scoop found Sreesanth at short fine leg. The final and the overall tournament served as the perfect advertisement for T20 cricket, and the format has now gained worldwide recognition through various franchise leagues.
ICC Champions Trophy (South Africa, 1998)
South Africa won the first ICC Champions Trophy, then known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy, in Bangladesh in 1998. Hansie Cronje's men defeated the West Indies by four wickets in the final in Dhaka courtesy of a remarkable all-round show from Jacques Kallis.
The legendary all-rounder first took 5/30 in 7.3 overs to help skittle West Indies for 245 and later scored a composed unbeaten 37* (51) during the chase. It remains South Africa's only senior men's limited-overs ICC title.
ICC Cricket World Cup (West Indies, 1975)
The West Indies were crowned the inaugural ODI world champions after winning the maiden Cricket World Cup in England in 1975. They defeated Australia by 17 runs in a memorable final at Lord's with captain Clive Lloyd leading from the front with a magnificent century.
He played a brilliant innings of 102 off just 85 balls, while West Indies' spectacular fielding display and disciplined bowling completed a historic victory.