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Life has come full circle in the traditional format of Test cricket. Although Test cricket has in the past witnessed a regular increase in play hours from three days to five days, the time has now arrived for instant cricket or a one-day Test match, featuring a maximum of 80 overs.

The Test Twenty format will feature the two teams playing two innings of 20 overs each, with scores carried forward across innings. Each team bats twice, just like in a Test match, reviving the art of building a game while keeping play concise, dynamic, and broadcast-friendly. The rules of both Test and T20 cricket apply, with a few refined adjustments to suit the new format. Matches can conclude in a win, loss, tie, or draw, ensuring that every contest retains the full spectrum of cricket’s drama and unpredictability. It’s fast, strategic, and immersive - a format where every over and every decision matters.

"This is not another league; it’s a living tribute to the spirit of cricket,” says Gaurav Bahirvani. “We’re preserving the game’s legacy while shaping its future. Test Twenty is built to reignite the emotion, artistry, and endurance of Test cricket; all within a single day.”

The latest format casts shade on the initial model of instant cricket featuring 60-overs-a-side One Day Internationals. When the audience wanted a shorter and more impactful game, the game administrators introduced the T20 model. Long before the T20 concept got worldwide acceptability, innovators started toying with the idea of a still shorter version of the game – T10 – or 10 overs a side.

Interestingly, now that cricket is making a comeback to the Olympic Games, the latest version of Instant Test cricket will be gaining in demand as followers of the game appear to have lost appetite for five-dayers.

A recent statement by a group of five, including some stalwarts of the game,  says a bold new evolution that fuses the depth of Test cricket with the energy of T20, built to discover and celebrate the next generation of cricketing royalty. This is the world’s first 80-over format - not long, not short, but the game’s true middle form.

Standing behind Gaurav Bahirvani in shaping the future of cricket are some of the sport’s most influential figures - AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh - together forming the cornerstone of the Test Twenty Advisory Board. Their belief is simple yet profound: that cricket must evolve with time while remaining true to its spirit.

The ICC's reaction may generate an animated debate, as the innovators have been trying to take the game to a new level.

It further says that Cricket stands at the brink of its most defining evolution. Today, the game enters a new era as visionary sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani, Executive Chairman of the One One Six Network and Architect of the Fourth Format, officially unveiled Test Twenty - a revolutionary new format, platform, and global movement that reimagines the future of world cricket and sets the stage for its most ambitious reinvention yet.

For decades, cricket has inspired generations, yet lacked a single, unifying stage for young players around the world to rise together.

Test Twenty has been created to change that—a youth-first global movement designed to discover, nurture, and celebrate emerging talent from every corner of the globe, blending the sport’s timeless artistry with the rhythm of the modern age.

Supporting Gaurav’s vision on the operational front is Michael Fordham (former CEO of Rajasthan Royals IPL team), who joins Test Twenty as Chief Operating Officer. A respected figure in global sports management, Fordham brings decades of experience in building, operating, and commercialising international cricket platforms.

AB de Villiers - The Innovator, says “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 AB de Villiers.

Widely regarded as one of the most inventive players in modern cricket, de Villiers sees the Fourth Format as the natural next step in the game’s evolution - modern, meaningful, and purpose-driven.

Sir Clive Lloyd - The Statesman, feels  “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 Sir Clive Lloyd, the first-ever World Cup-winning captain.

For Lloyd, Test Twenty is a revival of the game’s lost artistry - a format that honours its past while embracing a smarter, faster tomorrow.

Matthew Hayden - The Visionary Mentor, echoes the same sentiments, holding that “As a player and a parent, I see this as cricket’s bridge between eras - a format that carries the wisdom of the old world into the fire of the new. For young players, this is a chance to grow not just as athletes, but as people,” said Matthew Hayden.

Hayden’s voice reinforces Test Twenty®️ as a movement built not only on competition, but on education, mentorship, and character.

Harbhajan Singh - The Torchbearer feels “Cricket needed a fresh heartbeat - something that connects today’s youth with the game’s original spirit. Test Twenty®️ does exactly that,” said Harbhajan Singh, one of India’s most celebrated match-winners.

Harbhajan brings a generational perspective—passion, authenticity, and a deep desire to see cricket’s next chapter led by integrity and pride.

United by purpose and driven by belief, these legends and leaders form the intellectual and operational core of Test Twenty - a movement that balances heritage with innovation, wisdom with technology, and legacy with youth.

In this distinguished company of cricket’s most revered icons, Bahirvani unveiled “The Four Pillars of Test Twenty” that together proclaim the dawn of cricket’s Fourth Format. Each pillar represents a defining stride in the game’s evolution.