Test Twenty Format Explained: The New Era of Modern Cricket

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Cricket is always evolving. From long Test matches to short T20 games, and newer formats like T10 and The Hundred, the sport is finding ways to keep fans excited. The latest addition is Test Twenty, a format that mixes the strategy of Test cricket with the fast pace of T20 matches.

What is Test Twenty?

Test Twenty was officially announced on October 16, 2025, by Gaurav Bahirvani, Executive Chairman of The One One Six Network. It is set to become the fourth international cricket format, alongside Test, ODI, and T20I.

Several cricket legends support this format, including Sir Clive Lloyd, AB de Villiers, Harbhajan Singh, and Matthew Hayden, who are also part of its advisory board. The announcement was made by South African cricket star AB de Villiers.

How Test Twenty Works

Test Twenty combines elements of Test cricket and limited-overs cricket:

Match Duration: Each match is played in one day, like an ODI.
Innings: Each team gets two innings, just like in a Test match.
Overs: Each innings has 20 overs, making the game faster and more exciting.
Age Group: Initially, only players aged 13 to 19 can participate. This may expand in the future.

This format allows players and fans to enjoy the depth of Test cricket in a shorter, faster-paced game.

Proud to have launched Test Twenty®️ with @gauravbahirvani . If you’re 13–19 and play with passion, this is your chance. Register: https://t.co/zNFYTDL6lV @The_Test_Twenty @HaydosTweets #clivelloyd @harbhajan_singh #ParitySports #oneonesixnetwork #TestTwenty #FourthFormat pic.twitter.com/FNDYvM6tJf
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 16, 2025

Test Twenty Tournament Format

The first Test Twenty tournament will feature six teams:

Three teams from India
One team each from Dubai, London, and the United States

Each team will have 16 players.

? A NEW CRICKET FORMAT INTRODUCED. ?

- ‘Test Twenty’ will be launched in January.

- It’ll be an 80 over contest combined.

- It’ll be played in 4 intervals.

- 20 overs each with both sides batting and bowling twice. pic.twitter.com/HjduXJ6U5G
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 16, 2025

The tournament format will be as follows:

Group Stage: All six teams will play each other in a round-robin format.
Points System: Teams earn points for wins, ties, and bonus performance.
Semi-Finals: The top four teams from the group stage will qualify for the semi-finals.
Final: The winners of the semi-finals will compete in the final to win the championship.

The first edition of the tournament will be held in India in January 2026.