What is ‘Test Twenty’? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cricket’s New Format
Gaurav Bahirvani launches new cricket format ‘Test Twenty’ merging Test strategy with T20 speed, debuting in Jan 2026.
A brand-new cricket format called Test Twenty has been launched, aiming to bring together the strategy of Test matches and the thrill of T20s. Launched on October 16, 2025, by sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani, the format promises to reshape how the game is played and experienced.
Supported by cricket greats AB de Villiers, Harbhajan Singh, Sir Clive Lloyd, and Matthew Hayden, Test Twentyintroduces a fast-paced yet tactical version of the game while keeping the essence of Test cricket intact.
Each match will feature 80 overs in total, with two innings of 20 overs per team. The traditional red ball will be used, and players will wear whites, giving the format a vintage look despite its modern approach.
Teams will also get a four-over PowerPlay, while a follow-on can be enforced if a team leads by 75 or more runs after the first innings. To keep the balance between bat and ball, each side can field a maximum of five bowlers, and every bowler can deliver up to eight overs in a match.
The inaugural season is scheduled for January 2026, featuring six franchises, three from India and three international teams from London, Dubai, and the U.S. Each squad will have 16 players, equally divided between domestic and international talent.
A key innovation behind the league is its use of an AI Discovery Engine for player scouting, combining performance data and motion tracking to identify emerging talent.
Speaking about the concept, Bahirvani described it as “a format with the potential to bridge the gap between cricket’s tradition and its fast-moving present.”
Designed to engage younger audiences, especially between ages 13 to 19, Test Twenty hopes to inspire a new generation while preserving cricket’s oldest values in a faster, smarter way.
