If you think cricket has already reached its limit with exciting T10 leagues, think again. A completely new format called “Test Twenty” is on its way — and it’s about to change the way young players experience the game.
This is a novel form invented by Indian sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani, and has been heavily backed by such legends of cricket as AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh. It aims at integrating the traditional ambiance of Test cricket and the high-speed, high-energy T20.
The inaugural season of the Test Twenty will be launched in early 2026, with six young teams comprising three Indian and three other teams. The tournament will be targeted to players between the ages of 13 and 19 who will learn the discipline of Test matches in a less arduous, and more exciting format.
What Exactly Is “Test Twenty”?
The idea is simple yet unique — it’s a T20-style match that follows the rules and structure of a Test match.
Each game will have four innings, just like a regular Test, but each inning will be only 20 overs long.
Here is how it works:
- Teams will wear traditional white kits and play with a red ball, keeping the Test cricket vibe alive.
- Each team can use five bowlers, and every bowler can bowl up to eight overs.
- There will be one powerplay of four overs per game.
- A follow-on can be enforced if a team leads by 75 runs or more.
This format mixes Test match strategy with T20 speed, creating a balance between patience, skill, and excitement something cricket fans of all ages can enjoy.
The creators of Test Twenty say their goal is to reconnect young players and audiences with the traditional side of cricket but in a way that fits modern attention spans. The format has been called a “creative revolution” in youth cricket by its advisory team, which includes some of the biggest names in the sport.
Although this form of the game is not going to replace the traditional Test cricket, it may have an impact on the future of franchise leagues and youth tournaments. The organizers are also considering the expansion of test twenty to other countries that the people love cricket such as UAE and Australia following the first season in India.
At present, Test Twenty will be targeted at young fans, although it may end up being a significant aspect of the future of cricket, provided that it is well received by fans and players. Some people might be reminded by the concept of the previous proposals of such legends as Sachin Tendulkar who once had a smart idea to play an ODI two times per team to make the game more equal and interesting.
The game of cricket is ever changing and Test Twenty could be the new innovation that is going to introduce the traditional aspect of cricket together with the excitement of the new game.
In the event of its success, this format is highly likely to become the new favorite among the fans to enjoy cricket in the coming years.
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