October 2025 - News Digest

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

The new competition will have six franchises © BCCI/IPL

October 17

Test Twenty, a new format, set to begin in January 2026

Six franchises - three international and three Indian - will participate in this 80-over cricket tournament

In a bid to marry the T20 format as well as Tests, the One One Six Network has come up with a new format - Test Twenty - which marries the attributes of the two. An 80-over contest, played in four intervals of 20 overs each, with both sides batting twice. Legendary cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden and Clive Lloyd have backed the format and have come in to join the Advisory Board.

"Having lived through every era of cricket, I can say this - the game has always adapted, but never this thoughtfully. Test Twenty brings back the art and rhythm of the sport, yet keeps it alive with modern energy," said Lloyd, the first-ever World Cup winning captain.

"Test Twenty is innovation with intent - it honours the traditions of the game while embracing the possibilities of the future. It gives young players a new dream to chase and fans a new story to follow," said de Villiers.

The first full season of Test Twenty debuts in January 2026, featuring six global franchises - three international (Dubai, London, and a U.S. city) and three Indian (franchise-choice cities). Each franchise will assemble a 16-player squad, comprising eight Indian and eight international players. In total, 96 players will be drafted during the auction, while the remaining 204 who are part of the Auction Pool through a three-tiered selection process, will form the Wildcard Pool - a reserve group eligible for mid-season selection opportunities.

© Cricbuzz

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