What Is ‘Test Twenty’? Everything You Need to Know About Cricket’s New Format

If you thought the pinnacle of contemporary cricket had been reached through T10 leagues across the globe, think again. The game’s next evolution is just around the corner, and it will be called Test Twenty.

The new format, developed by Indian sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani and backed by cricketing greats AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, and Matthew Hayden, aims to bridge the gap between the intensity of T20 cricket and the tradition of Test matches. It will debut next year as a youth-focused format for players aged 13 to 19, with six teams competing — three from India and three from around the world.

What is “Test Twenty”?

The format is exactly what it sounds like: a T20 match that follows the principles of Test cricket, with each team batting and bowling twice.

Each match will feature four innings of 20 overs each, played in traditional white kits with a red ball, preserving the essence of Test cricket while maintaining the pace of a T20. Teams can use up to five bowlers, with a maximum of eight overs per bowler. A four-over powerplay can be taken once per game, and a follow-on can be enforced with a lead of 75 runs or more.

The combination of old-school charm and new-age energy makes this format a bold experiment to reconnect young players and audiences with the purist version of the game.

While the format may seem like another gimmick, it has attracted serious backing. Advisory board members including AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh have praised the concept, calling it a “creative revolution” in youth cricket.

The inaugural season of Test Twenty will take place in India in early 2026, with plans to expand to other cricket-playing nations, including the UAE and Australia, in subsequent editions.

For cricket purists, there is little cause for concern. While the success of Test Twenty’s first season will determine whether the idea gains traction, it is unlikely to be adopted in international cricket — at least for now. The idea itself isn’t entirely new either. In the past, legends like Sachin Tendulkar have proposed two innings per side in ODIs to make the format more digestible for modern audiences, though such ideas have remained mere suggestions.

As cricket continues to evolve, Test Twenty could represent the next big step in the sport’s development, particularly on the franchise circuit. It’s a format that captures the heart of traditional cricket while appealing to the fast-paced, youth-driven future of the game.

If successful, Test Twenty may very well be the way fans want to experience the sport in the years to come.