New Cricket Format ‘Test Twenty’ Unveiled — India to Host the First Match in January 2026
New Cricket Format 'Test Twenty' Unveiled — India to Host the First Match in January 2026
Cricket fans, get ready to witness a revolution in the sport! After Test, ODI, and T20 formats, a brand-new format called ‘Test Twenty’ has officially been introduced.
The format was launched on Thursday, October 16, by Gaurav Bahirwani, Executive Chairman of The One One Six Network and a well-known sports entrepreneur.
Designed to bridge the gap between the longest and shortest versions of the game, Test Twenty combines the endurance of Test cricket with the pace and excitement of T20. According to the organisers, this new style will captivate audiences who crave both strategy and speed.
The advisory committee for Test Twenty includes legendary cricketers such as Harbhajan Singh, AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, and Matthew Hayden, who have lent their expertise to shape the format.
Each Test Twenty match will be played over a single day with 80 overs in total, divided into four innings of 20 overs each — two innings per team. Much like traditional Tests, matches can end in a win, loss, tie, or draw.
The inaugural season of Test Twenty is scheduled to kick off in January 2026, featuring six international franchise teams — three from India and one each from Dubai, London, and the USA. Each team will consist of 16 players, evenly split between Indian and overseas talents.
