Cricketers’ eyeballs are rocking with the new ‘Test Twenty’ format.

Cricket is set to trial a new format, ‘Test Twenty’, which combines the strategic depth of Tests with the pace of T20s.

Designed to retain the tactical nuance of the larger format while making it more accessible, the Test Twenty completes one match in one day.

Each match spans 80 overs, with both teams batting twice, two innings of 20 overs per side and the first innings scores in the second to balance aggression with consistency.

The format accommodates all possible outcomes: win, loss, draw or draw. If the combined scores are equal, a Super Over will decide the winner. However, if a team finishes their innings with five wickets remaining, they may choose to settle for a draw.

The concept is the brainchild of Gaurav Bahirvani, Founder and CEO of Test Twenty, and was officially launched on Thursday to rave reviews from cricket legends AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden, Harbhajan Singh and Sir Clive Lloyd, who hailed it as “exten’s capital” of cricket.

The format’s first major event, the Junior Test Twenty Championship, is scheduled for 2026, featuring players aged 13 to 19.

The tournament aims to nurture young cricketers by testing their temperament, decision-making and playing intelligence, rather than pure batting ability.

It will include six franchises, three from India and three international (based in London, Dubai and a US city).

Each team will consist of 16 players, evenly split between Indian and international talent. Player selection will be done via two routes:

Direct Entry: For players recommended by qualified cricketers, coaches or administrators.

Standard Entry: Open tests using AI and motion sensor technology to ensure fairness.

Players will be assessed through the Test Twenty Intelligence Index (TTII) — a data-driven system that assesses decision-making, temperament and cricket IQ.

Of the 1,000 players selected, 300 will qualify and 96 will join the founding franchises.

Adding stars, the franchises are expected to be co-owned by celebrities and sporting families, described by promoters as those who “grew up with the game in their blood”.

Innovative rules and matchup dynamics

Power play: One per match, of four overs, selected by the captain. if not used, it is automatically applied between overs 7 and 10 of the second innings.

Monitoring: It can be imposed if the second batting side has 75 or more runs after the first innings.

Early Collapse Clause: If a team is retired before 10 overs in their first innings, the opposing team wins three extra overs.

Bowling Restrictions: A maximum of five bowlers per team, each allowed up to eight overs in both innings.

Wide and without balls: Standard T20 rules apply, but three or more in an over triggers a three-run penalty.

Overcharging penalty: Teams with slow over-rates will lose five runs and one timeout.

Super Session: In the event of a tie, the result is decided by a one-over single. if still tied, the team with more limits wins.