Tied matches in T20 cricket initially relied on boundary count as a tiebreaker when Super Overs ended level, a rule that drew widespread criticism following controversial outcomes.
The elimination of this statistical tiebreaker marked a significant evolution toward fairer match resolutions based purely on on-field performance.
The shift toward multiple Super Overs represents cricket’s commitment to determining winners through competitive play rather than retrospective statistical analysis.
When the first Super Over ends in a tie, teams now contest additional Super Overs until a clear winner emerges.
Double Super Overs in Cricket History
This analysis examines all instances of double super overs in cricket history, highlighting the rare circumstances where matches required extended resolution beyond the initial Super Over to determine final outcomes.
List of All Double Super Overs in Cricket History
A Double Super Over occurs when the initial Super Over ends in a tie, requiring at least one additional Super Over to determine the match winner. Only four T20 matches across all formats have witnessed this exceptionally rare occurrence.
| Match | Tournament | Year | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | IPL | 2020 | Dubai | PBKS won (2nd Super Over) |
| India vs Afghanistan | T20I Series | 2024 | Bengaluru | India won (2nd Super Over) |
| Netherlands vs Nepal | T20I Tri-Series | 2025 | Scotland | Netherlands won (3rd Super Over) |
| South Africa vs Afghanistan | T20 World Cup | 2026 | T20 WC Venue | South Africa won (2nd Super Over) |
Only four matches across T20 cricket’s extensive history have required multiple Super Overs to determine winners.
Remarkably, one encounter between the Netherlands and Nepal extended to three consecutive Super Overs, representing the format’s most prolonged finish.
The All Super Overs In T20 World Cup History So Far includes just one Double Super Over instance, occurring during the 2026 tournament between South Africa and Afghanistan in the group stage.
List of All Double Super Overs
Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings (IPL 2020)
- Match Situation: Both teams finished at 176 runs in Dubai, creating the IPL’s first Double Super Over scenario. The high-stakes encounter required extended resolution after regulation play ended deadlocked.
- First Super Over Summary: Jasprit Bumrah bowled for the Mumbai Indians, dismissing Nicholas Pooran and KL Rahul while conceding 5/2. Mohammed Shami responded with six consecutive yorkers, restricting Mumbai Indians to 5/1 and forcing a second Super Over.
- Second Super Over Outcome: Mumbai Indians posted 11/1 in the second attempt. Punjab Kings chased the target within four deliveries as Chris Gayle launched a six off the opening ball, followed by two boundaries from Mayank Agarwal to secure victory.
India vs Afghanistan (2024)
- High-Scoring Regulation Tie: Both teams accumulated 212 runs at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the third T20I of their bilateral series. The elevated scoring set the stage for international cricket’s second Double Super Over.
- First Super Over Response: Afghanistan scored 16/1 off Mukesh Kumar’s Super Over. Rohit Sharma equalized with two powerful sixes, forcing a second Super Over to determine the series outcome.
- Second Super Over Decider: Sharma scored 11/2 before Ravi Bishnoi dismissed two batters in the first three deliveries. India secured both match victory and series whitewash through superior execution in the deciding Super Over.
This encounter demonstrated how double super overs in cricket history create memorable bilateral series moments extending beyond tournament cricket’s high-pressure environments.
Netherlands vs Nepal (2025)
- Tri-Series Context: Netherlands scored 152/7 batting first, with Nepal responding at 152/8 in a Tri-Series league match also involving Scotland. The tied regulation scores initiated cricket’s most extended Super Over sequence.
- Back-to-Back Equal Super Overs: Both teams scored 19 runs in the first Super Over before matching at 17 runs in the second attempt. The unprecedented consecutive ties forced cricket’s first-ever third Super Over.
- Third Super Over Breakthrough: Zach Lion-Cachet dismissed both Nepali batters for ducks in the third Super Over. Michael Levitt then scored a six off the first delivery to conclude cricket’s most dramatic finish.
South Africa vs Afghanistan (T20 World Cup 2026)
- World Cup Regulation Tie: Afghanistan matched South Africa’s total of 187 runs on February 11, 2026, creating the first-ever double super-over in T20 World Cup history. The tournament match extended beyond regulation before a global audience.
- First Super Over Exchange: Afghanistan accumulated 17 runs off Kagiso Rabada’s Super Over. Tristan Stubbs hit a six on the final delivery to tie the score at 17, forcing a second Super Over in World Cup competition.
- Second Super Over Conclusion: South Africa posted 23 runs before Keshav Maharaj restricted Afghanistan to 18/1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz failed to score the required six off the final ball, sealing South Africa’s victory in double super overs in cricket history at the tournament’s highest competitive level.
Statistical Snapshot of Double Super Overs
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Matches with Double Super Over | 4 |
| Matches with Triple Super Over | 1 |
| T20 World Cup Double Super Overs | 1 |
| IPL Double Super Overs | 1 |
| International T20Is | 3 |
The increasing frequency of high-scoring T20 matches creates more opportunities for regulation ties, yet repeat Super Overs remain exceptionally rare.
Three of four instances occurred in international T20Is, while one happened in the IPL during the 2020 season held in Dubai.
Conclusion:
The evolution of double super overs in cricket history reflects T20 cricket’s commitment to determining winners through on-field performance rather than retrospective statistical analysis.
These four matches represent the format’s most dramatic finishes, showcasing player composure under extreme pressure across tournament and bilateral contexts.
Eliminating boundary count rules created fairer match resolutions while producing unforgettable cricket moments.
Each instance demonstrates the sport’s capacity for sustained tension when teams prove equally matched through regulation play and initial Super Over attempts.
- 2020 – IPL Classic: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings witnessed the IPL’s inaugural Double Super Over, with Punjab Kings prevailing in the second attempt.
- 2024 – Bilateral Series Thriller: India defeated Afghanistan in Bengaluru through a Double Super Over, securing a series whitewash with superior second-attempt execution.
- 2025 – Triple Super Over Record: Netherlands vs Nepal created history with three consecutive tied Super Overs before Netherlands secured victory in unprecedented fashion.
- 2026 – World Cup Breakthrough: South Africa vs Afghanistan produced the T20 World Cup’s first Double Super Over during the tournament’s group stage competition.
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