View source for Twenty20

{{Short description|Form of limited overs cricket, 20-over format}}
{{Distinguish|Twenty20 International}}
{{About|the twenty-over format of professional men's cricket|the women's format|Women's Twenty20 cricket|amateur twenty-over cricket|short form cricket|the Indian film|Twenty:20 (film)}}
{{other uses|T20 (disambiguation)|2020 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

[[File:T20 final 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Lasith Malinga]] bowling to [[Shahid Afridi]] in the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|2009 T20 World Cup]] Final at [[Lord's]], [[London]].]]
{{Cricket sidebar |expanded=all}}

'''Twenty20''' (abbreviated '''T20''') is a shortened  format of [[cricket]]. At the professional level, it was introduced by the [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] (ECB) in 2003 for the [[county cricket|inter-county]] competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/980687.html|title=The first official T20 in 2003|date=12 March 2016|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=2 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702002949/http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/980687.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a Twenty20 game, the two teams have a single [[innings]] each, which is restricted to a maximum of twenty [[over (cricket)|overs]] (which is equivalent to 120 legal [[Delivery (cricket)|deliveries]] per team). Together with [[First-class cricket|first-class]] and [[List A]] cricket, Twenty20 is one of the three [[forms of cricket]] recognised by the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC) as being played at the highest level, both internationally and domestically.

A typical Twenty20 match lasts just over 3 hours,<ref>{{Cite web |last=icc |date=2024-01-30 |title=ICC Men's T20 World Cup: Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/t20-f-a-q |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=icc-cricket.com |language=en |quote=On average, an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match is approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes in duration.}}</ref> with each innings lasting around 90 minutes and an official 10-minute break between the innings. This is much shorter than previous forms of the game, and is closer to the timespan of other popular team sports. It was introduced to create a fast-paced game that would be attractive to spectators at the ground and viewers on television.

The game has succeeded in spreading around the cricket world. On most international tours there is at least one Twenty20 match and all [[Test cricket|Test]]-playing nations have a domestic cup competition.

==History==
===Origins===
[[File:Andrew Strauss twenty20.jpg|thumb|Former [[England cricket team|England]] batsman [[Andrew Strauss]] batting for [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]]]
When the [[Benson & Hedges Cup]] ended in 2002, the [[England and Wales Cricket Board|ECB]] sought another one-day competition to fill with the younger generation in response to dwindling crowds and reduced sponsorship. The Board wanted to deliver fast-paced, exciting cricket accessible to fans who were put off by the longer versions of the game.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=Alan |title=T20 timeline: Revolution to uncertainty |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20-timeline-revolution-to-uncertainty-820517 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |publisher=[[ESPN]] |language=en |date=13 January 2015}}</ref> Stuart Robertson, the marketing manager of the ECB, proposed a 20-over-per-innings game, invented by New Zealand cricketer [[Martin Crowe]], to county chairmen in 2001, and they voted 11–7 in favour of adopting the new format.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cleaver|first=Dylan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5n6uFKpbkY0C&q=Stuart+Robertson%2C+the+marketing+manager+of+the+ECB%2C+proposed+a+20+over+per+innings+game+to+county+chairmen+in+2001+and+they+voted+11%E2%80%937+in+favour+of+adopting+the+new+format&pg=PT11|title=Brendon McCullum: Inside Twenty20|date=2010-11-03|publisher=Hachette New Zealand|isbn=978-1-86971-238-9|language=en|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=3 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403174531/https://books.google.com/books?id=5n6uFKpbkY0C&q=Stuart+Robertson%2C+the+marketing+manager+of+the+ECB%2C+proposed+a+20+over+per+innings+game+to+county+chairmen+in+2001+and+they+voted+11%E2%80%937+in+favour+of+adopting+the+new+format&pg=PT11|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first official Twenty20 matches were played on 13 June 2003 between the English counties in the [[Twenty20 Cup]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/13JUN2003/ Matches played 13 June 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610070441/http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/13JUN2003/ |date=10 June 2008 }} ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2008</ref> The first season of Twenty20 in England was a relative success, with the [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey Lions]] defeating the [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire Bears]] by nine wickets in the final to claim the title.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/KNOCK-OUTS/SURREY_WARWICKS_TWENTY-20-FINAL_19JUL2003.html Twenty20 Cup, 2003, Final – Surrey v Warwickshire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725173413/http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/KNOCK-OUTS/SURREY_WARWICKS_TWENTY-20-FINAL_19JUL2003.html |date=25 July 2008 }} ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2008</ref> The first Twenty20 match held at [[Lord's]], on 15 July 2004 between [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] and [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]], attracted a crowd of 27,509, the highest attendance for any [[county cricket]] game at the ground – other than a one-day final – since 1953.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/25/usman-afzaal-surrey-middlesex-twenty20 |title=Usman Afzaal gives Surrey winning start but absent fans fuel concerns |first=Paul |last=Weaver |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 May 2009 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317021026/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/25/usman-afzaal-surrey-middlesex-twenty20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Worldwide spread===
Thirteen teams from different parts of the country participated in Pakistan's inaugural competition in 2004, with the [[Faisalabad Wolves]] the first winners. On 12 January 2005 Australia's first Twenty20 game was played at the [[WACA Ground]] between the [[Western Warriors]] and the [[Victorian Bushrangers]]. It drew a sell-out crowd of 20,000, which was the first one in nearly 25 years.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 January 2005 |title=Sellout at WACA for Twenty20 match |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sellout-at-waca-for-twenty20-match-145226 |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722110011/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sellout-at-waca-for-twenty20-match-145226 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Starting on 11 July 2006, 19 West Indies regional teams competed in what was named the [[Stanford 20/20]] tournament. The event was financially backed by billionaire [[Allen Stanford]], who gave at least US$28 million in funding money. It was intended that the tournament would be an annual event. [[Guyanese cricket team|Guyana]] won the inaugural event, defeating [[Trinidad and Tobago cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]] by five wickets, securing US$1 million in prize money.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 August 2006 |title=Guyana crowned Stanford 20/20 champions |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-20-20-2006-228881/guyana-vs-trinidad-tobago-final-252990/match-report |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208111716/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-20-20-2006-228881/guyana-vs-trinidad-tobago-final-252990/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20060208T230000-0500_98302_OBS_DATES_FOR_STANFORD_TWENTY___ANNOUNCED.asp|title=Dates for Stanford Twenty20 announced|work=The Jamaica Observer|date=9 February 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205185816/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20060208T230000-0500_98302_OBS_DATES_FOR_STANFORD_TWENTY___ANNOUNCED.asp|archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref>

On 5 January 2007 the [[Queensland Bulls]] played the [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales Blues]] at [[Brisbane Cricket Ground|The Gabba]], [[Brisbane]]. An unexpected 16,000 fans turned up on the day to buy tickets, causing Gabba staff to throw open gates and grant many fans free entry. Attendance reached 27,653.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/db/aus/article.asp?NewsID=1093|title=Gabba fans let in for free|publisher=Cricket20.com|access-date=31 March 2007|archive-date=8 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008024400/http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/db/aus/article.asp?NewsID=1093|url-status=dead}}</ref> For the February 2008 Twenty20 match between Australia and India, 85,824 people attended the match at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], involving the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20 final|Twenty20 World Champions]]<ref>{{cite web |date=1 February 2008 |title=India crash to nine-wicket defeat |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-australia-2007-08-291320/australia-vs-india-only-t20i-291356/match-report |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030354/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-australia-2007-08-291320/australia-vs-india-only-t20i-291356/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> against the [[2007 Cricket World Cup final|ODI World Champions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/292773.html|title=Australia v Sri Lanka, World Cup final, Barbados|author1=S Rajesh |author2=HR Gopalakrishna|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=30 April 2007}}</ref>

The [[Stanford Super Series]] was held in October 2008 between the three teams.  The respective winners of the English and Caribbean Twenty20 competitions, [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] and [[Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]], and a [[Stanford Superstars]] team formed from West Indies domestic players. Trinidad and Tobago won the competition, securing US$280,000 prize money.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 October 2008 |title=Udal leads Middlesex for Stanford |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/udal-leads-middlesex-for-stanford-372261 |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722110910/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/udal-leads-middlesex-for-stanford-372261 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGlashan |first=Andrew |date=27 October 2008 |title=Ramdin leads T&T to big-money glory |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-super-series-2008-09-354384/middlesex-vs-trinidad-tobago-362442/match-report |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418093441/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-super-series-2008-09-354384/middlesex-vs-trinidad-tobago-362442/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 November, the Stanford Superstars played England in what was expected to be the first of five fixtures in as many years with the winner claiming US$20 million in each match. The Stanford Superstars won the first match,<ref>{{cite web |last=McGlashan |first=Andrew |date=1 November 2008 |title=Gayle leads Superstars to millions |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-west-indies-oct-nov-2008-2008-09-354387/stanford-superstars-vs-england-354386/match-report |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020045701/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-west-indies-oct-nov-2008-2008-09-354387/stanford-superstars-vs-england-354386/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> but no further fixtures were held as Allen Stanford was charged with fraud in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7895505.stm |title=US tycoon charged over $8bn fraud |publisher=BBC News |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712134738/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7895505.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===T20 leagues===
{{Main|List of T20 cricket competitions}}
[[File:SRH fans while an ipl match.jpg|thumb|Crowd during a match of the [[2015 IPL]] season in [[Hyderabad]], India]]
Several T20 leagues started after the popularity of the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1124714/are-t20-leagues-making-money|title=Are T20 leagues making money?|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102012513/http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1124714/are-t20-leagues-making-money|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] started the [[Indian Premier League]] popularly known as [[IPL]], which is now the largest cricket league, in 2008, which utilizes the [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|North American sports franchise]] system with ten teams in major Indian cities. In September 2017, the broadcasting and digital rights for the next five years (2018–2022) of the IPL<ref>{{Cite web|title=IPL Live Score|url=https://iplt20lives.com/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=iplt20lives.com|language=en|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412215221/https://iplt20lives.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> were sold to [[Star India]] for US$2.55&nbsp;billion,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/04/ipl-rights-sold-star-india-cricket-twenty-20|title=IPL television and broadcast rights sold for massive £1.97bn to Star India|date=4 September 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904130121/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/04/ipl-rights-sold-star-india-cricket-twenty-20|url-status=live}}</ref> making it one of the world's most lucrative sports league per match. The IPL has seen a spike in its brand valuation to US$5.3&nbsp;billion after the [[2017 Indian Premier League|10th edition]], according to global valuation and corporate finance advisor Duff & Phelps.<ref name="IPL 2017 Valuation">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ipl-brand-valuation-rises-to-usd-5-3-billion-duff-phelps/articleshow/60195840.cms|title=IPL 2017 Valuation|work=The Times of India |date=23 August 2017 |publisher=TOI|access-date=2017-08-23|archive-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917200045/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ipl-brand-valuation-rises-to-usd-5-3-billion-duff-phelps/articleshow/60195840.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Big Bash League]], [[Bangladesh Premier League]], [[Pakistan Super League]], [[Caribbean Premier League]], and [[Afghanistan Premier League]] started thereafter, following similar formulae, and remained popular with the fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/IPL-worlds-6th-most-attended-league-Big-Bash-9th-Report/articleshow/50535961.cms|title=IPL world's 6th most attended league, Big Bash 9th: Report|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=12 January 2016 |access-date=30 October 2017|archive-date=16 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216184007/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/IPL-worlds-6th-most-attended-league-Big-Bash-9th-Report/articleshow/50535961.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/20215459/the-lowdown-all-t20-leagues|title=The lowdown on the major T20 leagues|date=3 August 2017|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025024/http://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/20215459/the-lowdown-all-t20-leagues|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Women's Big Bash League]] was started in 2015 by Cricket Australia, while the [[Kia Super League]] was started in [[England and Wales]] in 2016. The [[Mzansi Super League]] in [[South Africa]] was started in 2018.

Several T20 leagues<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-05-09|title=IPL format: No time to relax|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ipl-format-no-time-to-relax/story-ea1PcKRdYoIir1PIuq7MTN.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=25 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125152823/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ipl-format-no-time-to-relax/story-ea1PcKRdYoIir1PIuq7MTN.html|url-status=live}}</ref> follow the general format of having a group stage followed by a [[Page playoff system]] among the top four teams where:
* The first- and second-highest placed teams in the group stage face off, with the winner going to the final.
* The third- and fourth-place teams face off, with the loser being eliminated.
* The two teams who have not yet made it to the final after the above two matches have been played face off to fill the second berth in the final.

In the Big Bash League, there was an additional match to determine which of the fourth- or fifth-placed teams will qualify to be in the top four, Until the 2022/23 season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-22|title=EXPLAINED {{!}} Format of Big Bash League 2019–20 finals|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/explained-format-of-big-bash-league-2019-20-finals-1502848043.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=The Statesman|language=en-US|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021193417/https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/explained-format-of-big-bash-league-2019-20-finals-1502848043.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Twenty20 Internationals===
{{Main|Twenty20 International|Women's Twenty20 International}}
The first Twenty20 International match was held on 5 August 2004 between the [[England national women's cricket team|England]] and [[New Zealand national women's cricket team|New Zealand]] women's teams, with New Zealand winning by nine runs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/135007.html |title=Revolution at the seaside |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=6 August 2004 |access-date=24 March 2010 |archive-date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403174603/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/revolution-at-the-seaside-135007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 17 February 2005 [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] defeated [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] in the first men's international Twenty20 match, played at [[Eden Park]] in [[Auckland]]. The game was played in a light-hearted manner – both sides turned out in kit similar to that worn in the 1980s, the New Zealand team's a direct copy of that worn by the [[Beige Brigade]]. Some of the players also sported moustaches or beards and hairstyles popular in the 1980s, taking part in a competition amongst themselves for "best retro look", at the request of the Beige Brigade. Australia won the game comprehensively, and as the result became obvious towards the end of the NZ innings, the players and umpires took things less seriously: [[Glenn McGrath]] jokingly replayed the [[Trevor Chappell]] [[1981 underarm bowling incident|underarm incident]] from a 1981 ODI between the two sides, and [[Billy Bowden]] showed him a mock [[Red card (sports)|red card]] (red cards are not normally used in cricket) in response.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

On 16 February 2006 New Zealand defeated [[West Indian cricket team|West Indies]] in a tie-breaking [[bowl-out]] 3–0; 126 runs were scored apiece in the game proper.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

The ICC has declared that it sees T20 as the optimal format for globalizing the game,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Cricket gets smaller before it can grow?|url=https://playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2019/0572_cricket-gets-smaller-before-it-can-grow/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=playthegame.org|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181807/https://playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2019/0572_cricket-gets-smaller-before-it-can-grow/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2018, announced that it will give international status to all T20 cricket matches played between its member nations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=T20s between all ICC members to have international status|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20s-between-all-icc-members-to-have-international-status-1144460|access-date=2021-10-27|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181808/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20s-between-all-icc-members-to-have-international-status-1144460|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in a significant leap in the number of T20I matches played across the world.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-20|title=Cricket looks set to become a global game|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/10/20/cricket-looks-set-to-become-a-global-game|access-date=2021-10-29|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029031903/https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/10/20/cricket-looks-set-to-become-a-global-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=T20 International Cricket drives significant growth in 2019|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1607399|access-date=2021-10-27|website=icc-cricket.com|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181806/https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1607399|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Twenty20 World Cup ====
{{Main|ICC Men's T20 World Cup|ICC Women's T20 World Cup}}
Every two years an [[ICC World Twenty20]] tournament is to take place, except in the event of an [[ICC Cricket World Cup]] being scheduled in the same year, in which case it will be held the year before. The first tournament was in [[2007 ICC World Twenty20|2007 in South Africa]] where [[India cricket team|India]] defeated [[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]] in the final. Two Associate teams had played in the first tournament, selected through the [[2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One]], a 50-over competition. In December 2007 it was decided to hold a qualifying tournament with a 20-over format to better prepare the teams. With six participants, two would qualify for the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|2009 World Twenty20]] and would each receive $250,000 in prize money.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 December 2007 |title=ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier to be held in Ireland |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-to-be-held-in-ireland-325356 |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210141841/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-to-be-held-in-ireland-325356 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|second tournament]] was won by [[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]], who beat [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lanka]] by eight wickets in England on 21 June 2009. The [[2010 ICC World Twenty20]] tournament was held in the West Indies in May 2010, where [[England cricket team|England]] defeated [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] by seven wickets. The [[2012 ICC World Twenty20]] was won by the West Indies, by defeating Sri Lanka at the finals. It was the first time in cricket history when a T20 World Cup tournament took place in an Asian country. The [[2014 ICC World Twenty20]] was won by Sri Lanka, by defeating India at the finals, where the tournament was held in Bangladesh. The [[2016 ICC World Twenty20]] was won by West Indies. In July 2020, the ICC announced that both the 2020 and 2021 editions had been postponed by one year due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

In June 2021, the ICC expanded the Twenty20 World Cup from 16 to 20 teams starting from the 2024 edition onwards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ICC expands men's world events: ODI WC to 14 teams, T20 WC to 20 teams|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-expands-men-s-world-events-odi-world-cup-to-14-teams-t20-world-cup-to-20-teams-1264847|access-date=2021-10-27|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181807/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-expands-men-s-world-events-odi-world-cup-to-14-teams-t20-world-cup-to-20-teams-1264847|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Impact on the game===
[[File:Twenty20 cricket start.JPG|thumb| Twenty20 matches can have some exciting displays, such as when the batsmen run out to the pitch]]
Twenty20 cricket is claimed to have resulted in a more athletic and explosive form of cricket. Indian fitness coach [[Ramji Srinivasan]] declared in an interview with the Indian fitness website Takath.com that Twenty20 had "raised the bar" in terms of fitness levels for all players, demanding higher levels of strength, speed, agility and reaction time from all players regardless of role in the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.takath.com/articles/20090619|title=An interview with Ramji Srinivasan|publisher=Takath.com|date=19 June 2009|access-date=22 June 2009|archive-date=8 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008182417/http://www.takath.com/articles/20090619|url-status=usurped}}</ref> [[Matthew Hayden]] credited retirement from international cricket with aiding his performance in general and fitness in particular in the [[Indian Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/cricket/hayden-heroics-shining-light-of-ipl/1511995.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918140528/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/cricket/hayden-heroics-shining-light-of-ipl/1511995.aspx|title=Hayden heroics shining light of IPL|work=[[The Canberra Times]]|date=13 May 2009|archive-date=18 September 2009 }}</ref>

Several commentators have noted that the T20 format has been embraced by many Associate Members of the ICC partly because it is more financially viable to play.<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/germany-brazil-thailand-t20-the-vehicle-to-drive-cricket-to-ever-newer-horizons-7585722/ Germany, Brazil, Thailand: T20 the vehicle to drive cricket to ever newer horizons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181805/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/germany-brazil-thailand-t20-the-vehicle-to-drive-cricket-to-ever-newer-horizons-7585722/ |date=27 October 2021 }} <nowiki>https://indianexpress.com/</nowiki> 23 October 2021

"We are good at T20 because that's the format in which we get maximum exposure, apart from the fact that it is financially viable", says former Afghanistan Cricket Association chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai.</ref><ref name=":0" /> T20's success has also inspired the invention of even shorter formats, such as [[T10 cricket]] and [[100-ball cricket]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Thirty-two predictions for the future of Twenty20 cricket |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20-cricket-future-revolution-icc-tim-wigmore-freddie-wilde-a9179116.html |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> and its impact on cricket has been compared to or served as inspiration for innovations in other sports, such as with the [[3x3 basketball|3x3 variant]] of basketball or the Indian [[Pro Kabaddi League]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon, DHNS |first=Sandeep |title=Sport and culture: An evolutionary tale |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/sport-and-culture-an-evolutionary-tale-1031884.html |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

Former Australian captain [[Ricky Ponting]], on the other hand, has criticised Twenty20 as being detrimental to Test cricket and for hampering batsmen's scoring skills and concentration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phone.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/529427.html|title=I told Dravid not to retire – Ponting|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074331/http://phone.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/529427.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Former Australian captain [[Greg Chappell]] made similar complaints, fearing that young players would play too much T20 and not develop their batting skills fully, while former England player [[Alex Tudor]] feared the same for bowling skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2013/content/story/706051.html|title=How is T20 affecting cricket?|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074521/http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2013/content/story/706051.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cricket/alex-tudor-fears-t20-is-killing-cricket-s-traditional-skills-a3213941.html|title=Alex Tudor fears T20 is killing cricket's traditional skills|date=30 March 2016|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074222/https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cricket/alex-tudor-fears-t20-is-killing-cricket-s-traditional-skills-a3213941.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Former [[West Indies]] captains [[Clive Lloyd]], [[Michael Holding]] and [[Garfield Sobers]] criticised Twenty20 for its role in discouraging players from representing their test cricket national side, with many West Indies players like [[Chris Gayle]], [[Sunil Narine]], [[Jason Holder]] and [[Dwayne Bravo]] preferring instead to play in a Twenty20 franchise elsewhere in the world and make far more money.<ref>{{cite web | title=Latest news & breaking headlines | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/739304fc-7038-4dd4-ae12-1fedd14ceb82?shareToken=ac39a9affbee92bf2ee5caa8fb075c48 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/t20-cricket-has-destroyed-west-indies-cricket-sir-garfield-sobers-2478570.html|title=T20 cricket has destroyed West Indies cricket: Sir Garfield Sobers – Firstpost|website=firstpost.com|date=22 October 2015|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072238/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/t20-cricket-has-destroyed-west-indies-cricket-sir-garfield-sobers-2478570.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/816159.html|title=T20 has messed our cricket up – Lloyd|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205075109/http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/816159.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/cricket/842428/Why-isn-t-Chris-Gayle-playing-West-Indies-England-Test-cricket-series|title=Why isn't Chris Gayle playing for West Indies against England? Test absence explained|first=James|last=Gray|date=17 August 2017|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072346/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/cricket/842428/Why-isn-t-Chris-Gayle-playing-West-Indies-England-Test-cricket-series|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/missing-stars-india-vs-west-indies-gayle-narine-pollard|title=Gayle, Bravo, Pollard – Why Windies' Stars Will Skip India Series|date=23 June 2017|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072629/https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/missing-stars-india-vs-west-indies-gayle-narine-pollard|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/7790638/Twenty20-will-kill-Test-cricket-within-20-years-says-West-Indian-great-Michael-Holding.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/7790638/Twenty20-will-kill-Test-cricket-within-20-years-says-West-Indian-great-Michael-Holding.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Twenty20 will kill Test cricket within 20 years, says West Indian great Michael Holding|first=Jim|last=White|date=1 June 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Similar, New Zealand players [[Trent Boult]] and [[Jimmy Neesham]] turned down central contracts enabling them to play cricket for New Zealand, instead preferring to concentrate on Twenty20 franchise cricket.<ref> https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/jimmy-neesham-declines-new-zealand-contract-blair-tickner-and-finn-allen-handed-deals-1334867?platform=amp</ref>

{{Quote box
 |quote  = Under-17s and Under-19s are playing T20 games in national championships, and at the detriment of two-day games. Good state players these days are averaging 35; if you were averaging 35 when I was playing your dad would go and buy you a basketball or a footy and tell you to play that.
 |author = [[Ricky Ponting]]
 |source =<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/529427.html | title=I told Dravid not to retire – Ponting | date=25 August 2011 | publisher=ESPN Cricinfo | access-date=30 December 2018 | archive-date=8 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008135038/http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/529427.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
 |width=300px
}}

=== Inclusion in multi-sport events ===
In June 2009, speaking at the annual [[Cowdrey Lecture]] at [[Lord's]], former Australian wicketkeeper [[Adam Gilchrist]] pushed for Twenty20 to be made an [[Olympic sport]]. "It would," he said, "be difficult to see a better, quicker or cheaper way of spreading the game throughout the world."<ref>Quoted in [[Lawrence Booth|Booth, Lawrence]]. "Myths; And stereotypes." ''The Spin'', 30 June 2009.</ref> This became a reality starting with the [[2028 Summer Olympics]]. T20 cricket has also been accepted into the [[Asian Games]] and [[Commonwealth Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-16 |title=T20 cricket confirmed as one of five new sports at LA28 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cricket-at-la28-cricket-confirmed-as-one-of-five-new-sports-at-la28-1403570 |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

==Match format and rules==
===Format===
Twenty20 match format is a form of [[limited overs cricket]] in that it involves two teams, each with a single [[innings]]. The key feature is that each team bats for a maximum of 20 [[over (cricket)|overs]] (120 legal balls). The batting team members do not arrive from and depart to traditional dressing rooms, but come and go from a bench (typically a row of chairs) visible in the playing arena, analogous to association football's [[technical area]] or a baseball [[Dugout (baseball)|dugout]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/998821.html|title=Bringing back fences could help even up the contest between bat and ball, and ensure that all sixes are genuine|date=17 April 2016|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521031419/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/998821.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Twenty20 game.jpg|thumb|[[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] playing against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] at [[Lord's]], in front of a 28,000-strong crowd]]

===General rules===
The [[Laws of Cricket]] apply to Twenty20, with some variations depending on the exact competition rules. The most common include:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://twenty20worldcup.cricketworld4u.com/rules.php| title=Twenty20 Rules| access-date=5 January 2015| publisher=CricketWorld4U| archive-date=28 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228191508/http://twenty20worldcup.cricketworld4u.com/rules.php| url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2025}}

* Each bowler may bowl a maximum of only one-fifth of the total overs per innings. For a full, uninterrupted match, this is four overs.
* If a bowler delivers a [[no-ball]] by overstepping the [[Crease (cricket)|crease]], it costs one or two runs (depending on the competition) and their next delivery is designated a "[[free hit]]". In this circumstance the batter can only be dismissed through a [[run out]], [[Hit the ball twice|hitting the ball twice]] or [[obstructing the field]].
* The following [[Fielding (cricket)|fielding]] restrictions apply:
** No more than five fielders can be on the [[leg side]] at any time.
** During the first six overs, a maximum of two fielders can be outside the [[Fielding (cricket)#Restrictions on field placement|30-yard circle]] (this is known as the [[Powerplay (cricket)|powerplay]]).
** After the first six overs, a maximum of five fielders can be outside the fielding circle.
*** However, in Australia's [[Big Bash League]] the Powerplay is only the first 4 overs, with the batters choosing when the same restrictions apply for 2 overs in the second half of the innings, in a period called a Powersurge.

===Tie deciders===
{{Main|Super Over}}
Currently, if the match ends with the scores tied and there must be a winner, the tie is broken with a one-over-per-side Eliminator<ref name=Cricinfo_Twenty20_Eliminator_27Jun2008>{{cite web
| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/358299.html
| title=One-over eliminator could replace bowl-out
| date=27 June 2008
| access-date=26 December 2008
| publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]
| archive-date=28 June 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628090639/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/358299.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> or [[Super Over]]:<ref name=ABC_Twenty20_NZvWI_26Dec2008_SuperOver>{{cite web
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/26/2455345.htm
| title=Windies edge NZ in Twenty20 thriller
| date=26 December 2008
| access-date=26 December 2008
| publisher=abc.net.au [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| archive-date=29 December 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229064717/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/26/2455345.htm
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref name=Cricinfo_Twenty20_NZvWI_26Dec2008_SuperOver>{{cite web
| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/current/story/384254.html
| title=Benn stars in thrilling tie
| date=26 December 2008
| access-date=26 December 2008
| publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]
| archive-date=7 February 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207172225/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/current/story/384254.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Each team nominates three batsmen and one bowler to play a one-over-per-side "mini-match". The team which bats second in the match bats first in the Super Over.<ref name="Cricinfo_Twenty20_NZvWI_26Dec2008_VettoriopposesSuperover_HTMLline422">{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/story/384312.html|title=Vettori opposes Super Over|date=26 December 2008|publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]|access-date=5 February 2009|archive-date=30 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230220549/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/story/384312.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Cricinfo_Twenty20_13Jan2009_TheEliminator">{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/386201.html|title=One1|last=The Explainer|date=13 January 2009|publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]|access-date=5 February 2009|archive-date=2 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102133737/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/386201.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In turn, each side bats one over bowled by the one nominated opposition bowler, with their innings over if they lose two wickets before the over is completed. The side with the higher score from their Super Over wins.
If the Super Over also ends up in a tie, it is repeated until the tie is broken.

In the Australian domestic competition the [[Big Bash League]], the Super Over is played slightly differently, with no two-wicket limit, and if the Super Over is also tied then a "[[wikt:countback|countback]]" is used, with scores after the fifth ball for each team being used to determine the result. If it is still tied, then the countback goes to four balls, and so on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigbash.com.au/the-league/rules|title=KFC T20 Big Bash League: Rules|publisher=KFC T20 Big Bash League|access-date=5 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109215244/http://www.bigbash.com.au/the-league/rules|archive-date=9 January 2015}}</ref> The latest Super Over to decide a match was between the [[United States national cricket team|United States]] and [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] on 6 June 2024, in the [[2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup]] at [[Grand Prairie Stadium]] in Dallas, Texas, with the United States winning 18/1 to 13/1 in the Super Over after tying on 159.

Tied Twenty20 matches were previously decided by a [[bowl-out]].<ref>{{cite web |date=27 October 2008 |title=Super Over to replace bowl out |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/super-over-to-replace-bowl-out-375503 |access-date=5 January 2015 |publisher=ESPN CricInfo |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030755/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/super-over-to-replace-bowl-out-375503 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==International==
{{Main|Twenty20 International|Women's Twenty20 International}}
[[Women's Twenty20 International|Women's]] and [[Twenty20 International|men's Twenty20 Internationals]] have been played since 2004 and 2005 respectively. To date, 76 nations have played the format, including all [[Test nations|Test-playing nations]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Nation
! Date of men's T20I debut
! Date of women's T20I debut
|-
| {{cr|AUS}}
| 17 February 2005
| 2 September 2005
|-
| {{cr|NZ}}
| 17 February 2005
| 5 August 2004
|-
| {{cr|ENG}}
| 13 June 2005
| 5 August 2004
|-
| {{cr|SA}}
| 21 October 2005
| 10 August 2007
|-
| {{cr|WIN}}
| 16 February 2006
| 27 June 2008
|-
| {{cr|SL}}
| 15 June 2006
| 12 June 2009
|-
| {{cr|PAK}}
| 28 August 2006
| 25 May 2009
|-
| {{cr|BAN}}
| 28 November 2006
| 27 August 2012
|-
| {{cr|ZIM}}
| 28 November 2006
| 5 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|IND}}
| 1 December 2006
| 5 August 2006
|-
| {{cr|KEN}}
| 1 September 2007
| 6 April 2019
|-
| {{cr|SCO}}
| 12 September 2007
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|NED}}
| 2 August 2008
| 27 June 2008
|-
| {{cr|IRE}}
| 2 August 2008
| 27 June 2008
|-
| {{cr|CAN}}
| 2 August 2008
| 17 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|BER}}
| 3 August 2008
|
|-
| {{cr|AFG|2013}}
| 2 February 2010
|
|-
| {{cr|NEP}}
| 16 March 2014 
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|HK}}
| 16 March 2014 
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|UAE}}
| 17 March 2014 
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|PNG|size=23px}}
| 15 July 2015
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|OMA}}
| 25 July 2015 
| 17 January 2020
|-
| {{cr|SLE}}
| 19 October 2021
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|LES}}
| 16 October 2021
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|KOR}}
| 9 October 2022
| 3 November 2018
|-
| {{cr|CHN}}
| 26 July 2023
| 3 November 2018
|-
| {{cr|INA}}
| 9 October 2022
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|MYA}}
| 26 July 2023
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|BHU}}
| 5 December 2019
| 13 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|BHR}}
| 20 January 2019
| 20 March 2022
|-
| {{cr|KSA}}
| 20 January 2019
| 20 March 2022
|-
| {{cr|KUW}}
| 20 January 2019
| 18 February 2019
|-
| {{cr|MDV}}
| 20 January 2019
| 2 December 2019
|-
| {{cr|QAT}}
| 21 January 2019
| 17 January 2020
|-
| {{cr|RWA}}
| 18 August 2021
| 26 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|USA}}
| 15 March 2019
| 17 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|PHI}}
| 22 March 2019
| 21 December 2019
|-
| {{cr|VAN}}
| 22 March 2019
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|ESP}}
| 29 March 2019
| 5 May 2022
|-
| {{cr|MLT}}
| 29 March 2019
| 27 August 2022
|-
| {{cr|MEX}}
| 25 April 2019
| 23 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|BLZ}}
| 25 April 2019
| 13 December 2019
|-
| {{cr|CRC}}
| 25 April 2019
| 26 April 2019
|-
| {{cr|PAN}}
| 25 April 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|JPN}}
| 9 October 2022
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|FIJ}}
| 9 September 2022
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|TAN}}
| 2 November 2021
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|BEL}}
| 11 May 2019
| 25 September 2021
|-
| {{cr|GER}}
| 11 May 2019
| 26 June 2019
|-
| {{cr|UGA}}
| 20 May 2019
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|NGA}}
| 20 May 2019
| 26 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|GHA}}
| 20 May 2019
| 28 March 2022
|-
| {{cr|NAM}}
| 20 May 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|BOT}}
| 20 May 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|ITA}}
| 25 May 2019
| 9 August 2021
|-
| {{cr|GUE}}
| 31 May 2019
| 31 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|JER}}
| 31 May 2019
| 31 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|NOR}}
| 15 June 2019
| 31 July 2019
|-
| {{cr|DEN}}
| 16 June 2019
| 28 May 2022
|-
| {{cr|MLI}}
| 17 November 2021
| 18 June 2019
|-
| {{cr|MAS}}
| 24 June 2019
| 3 June 2018
|-
| {{cr|THA}}
| 24 June 2019
| 3 June 2018
|-
| {{cr|SAM}}
| 8 July 2019
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|FIN}}
| 13 July 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|SIN}}
| 22 July 2019
| 9 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|FRA}}
| 5 August 2021
| 31 July 2019
|-
| {{cr|CAY}}
| 18 August 2019
| 26 September 2024
|-
| {{cr|AUT}}
| 29 August 2019
| 31 July 2019
|-
| {{cr|ROM}}
| 29 August 2019
| 27 August 2022
|-
| {{cr|LUX}}
| 29 August 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|TUR}}
| 29 August 2019
|29 May 2023
|-
| {{cr|CZE}}
| 30 August 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|ARG}}
| 3 October 2019
| 3 October 2019
|-
| {{cr|BRA}}
| 3 October 2019
| 23 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|CHI}}
| 3 October 2019
| 23 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|PER}}
| 3 October 2019
| 3 October 2019
|-
| {{cr|BUL}}
| 14 October 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|SRB}}
| 14 October 2019
| 10 September 2022
|-
| {{cr|GRE}}
| 15 October 2019
| 9 September 2022
|-
| {{cr|POR}}
| 25 October 2019
| 
|-
| {{cr|GIB}}
| 26 October 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|MAW}}
| 6 November 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|MOZ}}
| 6 November 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
|{{cr|TLS}}
|6 November 2025
|
|}

===T20 International rankings===
{{Main|ICC World Twenty20 rankings|ICC Women's ODI and T20I rankings}}
In November 2011, the ICC released the first Twenty20 International rankings for the men's game, based on the same system as the Test and ODI rankings. The rankings cover a two- to three-year period, with matches since the most recent 1 August weighted fully, matches in the preceding 12 months weighted two-thirds, and matches in the 12 months preceding that weighted one-third. To qualify for the rankings, teams must have played at least eight Twenty20 Internationals in the ranking period.<ref>[http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/team_ranking.php ICC Team Rankings] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117001145/http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/team_ranking.php |date=17 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>Kendix, David. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/rankings/content/page/211271.html ICC rankings for Tests, ODIs, Twenty20 & Women] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303202904/http://www.espncricinfo.com/rankings/content/page/211271.html |date=3 March 2015 }}. ''ESPN Cricinfo''. ESPN Sports Media Ltd.</ref>

The ICC Women's Rankings were launched in October 2015, which aggregated performance over all three forms of the game.<ref name="ICC_womens_ranking">{{cite web|title=ICC Women's Team Rankings launched|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/89919/icc-womens-team-rankings-launched|publisher=International Cricket Council|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225090128/http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/89919/icc-womens-team-rankings-launched|archive-date=25 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2018, the ICC announced that the women's ranking would be split between ODIs and T20Is, and released both tables shortly thereafter.<ref name="ICCwomen">{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/877811 |title=ICC Launches Global Women's T20I Team Rankings |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=12 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012134938/https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/877811 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{col-float}}
{{ICC T20I Championship rankings}}
{{col-float-break}}
{{ICC Women's T20I Rankings}}
{{col-float-end}}

==Domestic professional T20 leagues==
[[File:HobartVSPerth WACA.jpg|thumb|The [[Perth Scorchers]] taking on the [[Hobart Hurricanes]] at the [[WACA Ground]] during [[Australia|Australia's]] [[2011–12 Big Bash League season|BBL 01]] (2011–12).]]
[[File:Providence Stadium, CPL 2018.jpg|thumb|The [[Guyana Amazon Warriors]] taking on the [[Trinbago Knight Riders]] at the [[Providence Stadium]] during [[West Indies|West Indies']] [[2018 Caribbean Premier League|CPL 06]] (2018).]]

{{Main|List of Twenty20 cricket competitions}}

This is a list of the current Twenty20 domestic competitions in several of the leading cricket countries.

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb560b;"
!Country
!Domestic competitions
!Number of teams 
|-
|[[Cricket in Australia|Australia]] || [[Big Bash League]] || 8
|-
|[[Cricket in Bangladesh|Bangladesh]] || [[Bangladesh Premier League]], [[National Cricket League Twenty20]]|| 8, 8
|-
|[[Cricket in Canada|Canada]] || [[Global T20 Canada]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in England|England]] || [[T20 Blast|Vitality Blast]] || 18
|-
|[[Cricket in Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] || [[Hong Kong T20 Blitz]] || 5
|-
|[[Cricket in India|India]] || [[Indian Premier League]], [[Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy]] || 10, 38
|-
|[[Cricket in Ireland|Ireland]] || [[Inter-Provincial Trophy]] || 4
|-
|[[Cricket in the Netherlands|Netherlands]]  || [[Dutch Twenty20 Cup]] || 16
|-
|[[Cricket in Nepal|Nepal]] || [[Nepal Premier League]] || 8
|-
|[[Cricket in New Zealand|New Zealand]] || [[Super Smash (men's cricket)|Super Smash]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Pakistan|Pakistan]] || [[Pakistan Super League]], [[National T20 Cup]], [[Champions T20 Cup]]|| 6, 8, 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Scotland|Scotland]] ||[[Murgitroyd Twenty20]], [[Regional Pro Series]] || 3
|-
|[[Cricket in South Africa|South Africa]] ||[[SA20]], [[CSA Provincial T20 Cup]]|| 6, 15, 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]] || [[Lanka Premier League]] || 5
|-
|[[Cricket in the West Indies|West Indies]] || [[Caribbean Premier League]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in the United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates]] || [[International League T20]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in the United States|United States]] || [[Major League Cricket]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]] || [[Stanbic Bank 20 Series]] || 4
|-
|}
{{Wide image|Eden Gardens Kolkata.jpg|950|The [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] taking on the [[Chennai Super Kings]] at the [[Eden Gardens]] during [[India|India's]] [[2008 Indian Premier League|IPL 01]] (2008)}}

==See also==
* [[List of Twenty20 cricket records]]
* [[List of Twenty20 International records]]
* [[100-ball cricket]]
** [[The Hundred (cricket)]]
*[[T10 cricket]], the 10-over format of cricket

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Twenty20 cricket}}
*[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/index.html?class=6 Cricinfo – Twenty20 records]
*[https://cricinfot20.com/ CricinfoT20 – Twenty20 records]
*[https://newsable.asianetnews.com/cricket-battle-ipl IPL News 2021]

{{ICC World Twenty20}}
{{Forms of cricket}}
{{Twenty20 leagues}}
{{Team Sport}}
{{Summer Olympic sports}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Twenty20 cricket| ]]