Cricket’s story is about evolution, from timeless five-day Tests to one-day ODIs and the fast-paced thrill of T20s. Now, the game welcomes a fourth format that could redefine its future: Test Twenty.
Officially unveiled on October 16, 2025, Test Twenty aims to preserve the soul of Test cricket while packaging it into a fast, modern, one-day format. It’s the brainchild of Gaurav Bahirvani, Executive Chairman of The One One Six Network, who envisions it as a “global youth-first cricket ecosystem.”
The Vision Behind Test Twenty
At its heart, Test Twenty is about giving young players aged 13–19 a fair, global platform to rise together. For decades, cricket has lacked a unifying stage for teenage talent, something like the NCAA system in U.S. basketball. Test Twenty aims to fill that gap by combining merit-based opportunities with world-class structure.
“This is not another league; it’s a living tribute to the spirit of cricket,” Bahirvani said at the launch. The mission is clear, to preserve cricket’s legacy while building its future.
Backing this vision are legends such as AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh, who form the Test Twenty Advisory Board. Michael Fordham, former Rajasthan Royals CEO, serves as Chief Operating Officer, bringing top-tier sports management expertise to the project.
Test Twenty Format and Structure
How Test Twenty Works
This hybrid format combines the mental battle of Test cricket with the tempo of a T20 match, all completed in one action-packed day.
- 80 overs total: Each team plays two innings of 20 overs each.
- Four sessions: The match runs across four sessions of 20 overs.
- Played in whites with a red ball: Honoring Test traditions.
- Traditional results: Matches can end in win, loss, tie, or draw.
- Single-day completion: Ideal for broadcasters and modern fans.
Innovative Rules that Redefine the Game
- Powerplay Flexibility: Each team gets one Powerplay (4 overs) where only two fielders are outside the circle. Captains can choose when to take it, or it’s auto-applied.
- Follow-On Margin: Reduced to 75 runs, compared to 200 in Tests.
- Early Collapse Clause: If a team is bowled out before 10 overs, the remaining overs go to the opponent’s first innings.
- Bowling Balance: 5 bowlers maximum; each can bowl up to 8 overs across both innings.
- Penalty Overs: Three or more wides/no-balls in one over equals 3 extra runs.
- Draw Option: Teams with fewer than five wickets down in their final innings can claim a draw; otherwise, the game must produce a result.
- Over-Rate Penalty: Slow teams lose one strategic timeout and concede 5 penalty runs.
These tweaks reward skill, strategy, and smart leadership, keeping the artistry of Test cricket alive, while giving it a vibrant, watchable rhythm.
Technology and the AI Discovery Engine
Perhaps the most futuristic part of Test Twenty is its AI-driven player evaluation system.
The AI Discovery Engine uses motion sensors, video analytics, and data science to assess players’ skills without human bias. This ensures merit-based selection for young cricketers from all corners of the world.
Through Tech-Transfer Partnerships, this technology will be shared with cricket academies and boards globally, empowering coaches and scouts to evaluate talent more accurately. It’s not just a format, it’s an entire ecosystem built on fairness and accessibility.
Junior Test Twenty Championship 2026
The inaugural Junior Test Twenty Championship (JTTC) will begin in January 2026.
It marks the first official Test Twenty competition and will feature six franchises:
- Three Indian city-based teams
- Three international teams from Dubai, London, and the United States
Each franchise will have 16 players (8 Indian + 8 international). Around 96 players will be picked in the auction, while 204 more will enter the Wildcard Pool for mid-season drafts. Registration opened globally on October 16, 2025, free for players aged 13–19 with valid ID.
India will host the first two seasons, leveraging its massive cricket infrastructure and fan base. From Season Two onwards, women players will also be included, making it a gender-inclusive format from the start.
Why Test Twenty Matters
Reviving the Spirit of Red-Ball Cricket
As Test cricket struggles with declining interest in some regions, Test Twenty rekindles that classic art, swing, patience, and strategy, in a time-friendly setup.
A Global Gateway for Young Cricketers
For teenagers dreaming of professional cricket, this could become the ultimate stepping stone, a global feeder system where raw talent meets real opportunity.
Bridging Generations
As AB de Villiers beautifully said, “Test Twenty honours the traditions of the game while embracing the possibilities of the future.”
It’s designed for both the purist and the next-gen fan, the perfect meeting point of skill and spectacle.
Final Word
Test Twenty is more than a new format; it’s a revolutionary bridge between eras. It combines the intelligence of Test cricket, the speed of T20s, and the inclusivity of youth development. With legends like AB de Villiers and Sir Clive Lloyd backing it, and with technology ensuring transparency, cricket might just have found its next big leap.
The countdown to January 2026 has begun, and with it, the start of a new story for cricket’s youngest dreamers and most passionate followers.
Welcome to Test Twenty — where tradition meets tomorrow.