New Cricket League Aims to Revolutionize Talent Identification with AI and Innovative Format
A new global cricket league, “Test Twenty,” is launching with the ambitious goal of creating a thorough talent ecosystem and modernizing player scouting.Spearheaded by The Fourth Format and the One one Six Network, the initiative aims to discover, train, and elevate the next generation of cricketers, going beyond simply hosting a tournament.
CEO Gaurav Bahirvani envisions the league as a “global feeder line” offering equal opportunities to young players irrespective of background or location,drawing a parallel to the role the NCAA plays in American basketball. “We’re constructing a connected talent ecosystem…that gives every young player…an equal path to recognition and growth,” he stated.
Central to this vision is the integration of cutting-edge technology.The league will utilize an AI-driven scouting system alongside a motion sensor integrated into bats and balls, designed to help young players better understand and develop their technique.The institution intends to collaborate with existing cricketing boards, offering this technology to enhance their scouting processes.
The format itself, “Test Twenty,” features two innings totaling 80 overs played in a single day. Several prominent cricketers have voiced their support, including Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, AB de Villiers, and Harbhajan Singh. De Villiers highlighted the format’s emphasis on player expression and balance, while Hayden emphasized the benefits of combining the excitement of shorter formats with the character-building aspects of longer play.
Hayden, reflecting on the decline of national academies like the one that historically fueled Australian cricket, believes the league can fill a crucial gap in talent identification.He envisions a partnership model,similar to existing collaborations between cricketing boards and organizations like Bulls Masters,to identify promising young players.
Bahirvani stressed the organization’s commitment to giving back to the cricketing community, offering their technology and platform to state associations in India and counties in the United Kingdom to bolster grassroots advancement. He emphasized a desire to provide multiple opportunities for players,believing everyone deserves more than a limited number of chances.
The inaugural edition of Test Twenty is scheduled to begin in India in January 2026. The league will feature six franchises – three based in India and one each in Dubai, London, and a US city. Each team will consist of 16 players, split evenly between Indian and international talent.A draft will initially select 96 players, with an additional 204 forming a “Wildcard Pool” available for mid-season recruitment. The winning team will be crowned the Junior Test twenty Championship (JTTC) winner and presented with a crown.
