New cricket format ‘Test Twenty’ unveiled; global debut set for 2026

Cricket’s “fourth format” — Test Twenty — has been officially launched, combining the strategy of Test cricket with the fast pace of T20. The 80-over format will make its global debut in 2026 through the Junior Test Twenty Championship, a tournament exclusively designed for players aged 13 to 19.

The announcement was made by cricket legends AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden, Harbhajan Singh, and Sir Clive Lloyd, alongside Gaurav Bahirvani, founder and CEO of Test Twenty and architect of the new format.

The tournament will feature six founding franchises — three Indian and three international — co-owned by the “next generation of icons,” including the children of prominent cricketers, actors, and entrepreneurs.

According to organisers, the selection process will be conducted through Direct Entry and Standard Entry routes. The latter will use AI-powered scouting, city trials, motion sensors, and data analytics to identify emerging talent worldwide. From these, a World Pool of 1,000 players will be created, followed by assessment through the Test Twenty Intelligence Index (TTII) to evaluate skill, decision-making, and temperament. Eventually, 96 players will be drafted into the franchises, while 204 will join the wildcard pool.

Each team will play two innings of 20 overs, and the match will be completed in a single day. The format allows for win, loss, tie, or draw outcomes, with draws permitted if the batting side retains at least five wickets till the end.