“Test Twenty” Announced as Cricket’s Fourth Official Format

Cricket is set to enter a new era with the launch of its fourth format, Test Twenty, officially announced by Gaurav Bahirvani. The concept brings together the patience and strategy of Test cricket with the pace and excitement of T20s, creating a never-before-seen hybrid for the next generation.

The format will feature 80 overs across two innings of 20 overs each, with scores carried forward. Matches can end in a win, loss, tie, or draw reviving the classic Test feel while maintaining the brevity of modern cricket.

A powerful Advisory Board has been formed, featuring cricket greats AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh. Their goal is to shape a structure that promotes skill, character, and diversity while preserving cricket’s artistry.

The inaugural season kicks off in January 2026 with six franchises—three international and three Indian—each with celebrity or star-kid stakeholders. The global auction will feature the top 300 youth players aged 13–19, selected through analytics, merit, and high-performance data. A Wildcard Pool will also allow rising talents to break through.

In a major step for inclusivity, women’s cricket will join in Season Two, expanding the platform’s global reach. Test Twenty also aims to become an “NCAA-equivalent” for world cricket, creating a new pathway for young athletes to showcase and develop their skills before stepping into professional or national cricket.

The initiative emphasizes technology-driven fairness, using AI, motion sensors, and video analytics to ensure unbiased talent evaluation. Organizers say the goal isn’t to compete with national or state cricket but to complement existing systems through shared data and training innovation.

The cricketing legends backing the format have praised its vision and balance between tradition and progress.

AB de Villiers said, “Test Twenty is innovation with intent—it honours the traditions of the game while embracing the possibilities of the future.”

Sir Clive Lloyd called it “a thoughtful evolution that brings back the art and rhythm of the sport while keeping it alive with modern energy.”

Harbhajan Singh added, “Cricket needed a fresh heartbeat, something that connects today’s youth with the game’s original spirit. Test Twenty does exactly that.”

Gaurav Bahirvani summed it up:

“This is not another league; it’s a living tribute to cricket’s soul—reviving endurance and artistry within a single day.”