A new chapter is starting in the world of cricket with the arrival of the Test Twenty format. It is a fresh format that mixes the fast action of T20 with the time-taken, thoughtful style of Test cricket. Many are calling it the fourth official format of the game after Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Matthew Hayden, Harbhajan Singh, Sir Clive Lloyd, and AB de Villiers unveiled the newest innovation in the game alongside organiser Gaurav Bahirvani on Thursday. The newest championship is called ‘Test Twenty’ and it is nothing like one has ever seen before. The first two editions of the new championship will be held in India, with the first edition set to commence as early as January 2026.
Basic features of the Test Twenty Format
- 80 overs: Each team plays two innings of 20 overs, with first-innings scores carried into the second.
- The match will be completed in a single day. The outcomes can include a win, a loss, a tie, or a draw.
- In case of a tie, the game will go to a super over. For a draw, the team batting must retain at least 5 wickets till the last ball.
Rules decided for the newest format, a few were added to the existing ones
Test Twenty brings in a set of new rules while still keeping the heart of cricket intact. Each team will get one Powerplay of four overs, chosen by the captain, where only two fielders can stay outside the circle. Captains can also enforce a follow-on if the second team is behind by 75 or more runs after the first innings. If a team is bowled out before 10 overs in their first innings, the opponent will receive three extra overs, but if it happens after 10 overs, no overs are added. Only five bowlers can be used in a match, with each allowed up to eight overs across both innings, and the captain can divide these overs as they wish.
Wides and no balls will follow T20 rules, though in the second innings, umpires may use their judgment if a batter moves across the crease, and repeated extras in a single over will lead to extra penalty runs. A draw can be chosen if the chasing side has lost fewer than five wickets by the end of the second innings, but once the fifth wicket falls only a win or loss is possible unless rain prevents a result. Teams must also follow a time cap for each innings, and slow over rates will be punished with a five-run penalty and the loss of a time-out. In case of a tie, the match will be decided by a Super Session of one over each, and if it remains level, the team with the higher boundary count will be declared the winner.
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Next Generation of Icons to Lead Junior Test Twenty Teams
The Junior Test Twenty Championship will feature six founding franchises, with three based in India and three representing London, Dubai, and a city in the United States. Each team will have 16 players, balanced evenly between Indian and international talent. Players will be selected in two ways: through direct entry, where they are recommended by recognised cricketers, coaches, or administrators, and through standard entry, which involves open trials using AI and motion sensors to ensure fairness.
Performance will be measured by the Test Twenty Intelligence Index, a system that tracks decision-making, temperament, and overall cricket IQ. From a pool of 1,000 shortlisted players, the top 300 will advance, and finally 96 will be drafted by the six franchises. Adding star power to the mix, these teams will be co-owned by celebrity and sporting families, including the children of celebrated cricketers, actors, entrepreneurs, and global personalities, who grew up with the game in their blood.
Test Twenty Format: A Global Pathway for Young Cricket Talent
Test Twenty® is more than just a new format. Through the Junior Test Twenty Championship™ (JTTC), which will be played across more than 50 nations, players can enter national and international pools that may lead to professional franchise opportunities.
Founder Gaurav Bahirvani explained that the mission is to build something similar to the NCAA system in the United States, giving cricket its own structured pathway for young players. The aim is to create a merit-based feeder system that opens doors for talent everywhere, without limits of gender, background, or geography.
