T20 vs ODI vs Test: how player selection changes by format
This season India play all three international formats at home: ODIs and T20Is against Sri Lanka in December 2026, ODIs against Zimbabwe in January 2027, and five Tests against Australia from 21 January 2027. The format changes who gets the chances to score fantasy points.
The facts that matter
| T20I | ODI | Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overs per side | 20 | 50 | No limit (90 overs scheduled per day) |
| Max overs per bowler | 4 | 10 | No limit |
| Fielding restrictions | Powerplay: overs 1–6 | Overs 1–10, 11–40, 41–50 | None |
| Balls | One new ball per innings | Two new balls until over 34, then one chosen | New ball available after 80 overs |
The ODI restrictions allow at most two fielders outside the 30-yard circle in overs 1–10, four in overs 11–40 and five in overs 41–50. The ball rule comes from the ICC's men's ODI playing conditions effective from July 2025.
T20 internationals
- Top-order batters face the most balls. An opener can bat through all 20 overs. A number six may face very few balls.
- Bowlers are capped at four overs. A bowler who bowls in the powerplay and at the death bowls the important overs, where wickets come from batters taking risks.
- Strike rate and economy matter more in scoring tables that include them.
- Night games and dew. The December T20Is (Rajkot, Cuttack, Pune) start at 7:00 pm IST, so the whole match is played under lights. Dew risk varies a lot between these three venues; see each venue page.
ODIs
- Ten-over bowlers are valuable. A frontline bowler bowls 10 of the 50 overs.
- The two-ball rule keeps the ball harder for longer early on. Choosing one ball from over 35 can help reverse swing and spin late in the innings.
- Day-night timing. The December and January ODIs start at 2:00 pm IST. The first innings is played mostly in daylight and the second mostly after sunset, so if there is dew it usually affects the chase.
- Anchors score. A top-order batter who bats 35–40 overs can reach milestone bonuses that rarely come in a T20.
Tests
- Bowlers bowl long spells, and a frontline spinner on a dry Indian pitch can bowl a lot of overs across two innings.
- Pitches change over five days. The surface usually gets drier and more worn, so spinners grow in value as the match goes on.
- Light and start times matter. BCCI has scheduled four of the Australia Tests to start at 9:30 am IST and the Guwahati Test at 9:00 am IST. In eastern India the sun sets earlier in winter. Each venue page lists the sunset time on match days.
- Fantasy formats for Tests are less common, and scoring tables differ more. Read the rules carefully.
Quick checklist by format
- T20: top-four batters, four-over bowlers who bowl at the death, dew-adjusted chase picks.
- ODI: ten-over bowlers, anchoring top-order batters, all-rounders who bowl close to a full quota.
- Test: frontline spinners on dry pitches, top-order batters with time to build long innings, keepers for catches.
FAQ
How many overs can one bowler bowl?
Four in a T20 international and ten in an ODI. There is no individual limit in a Test match.
What changed about the ball in ODIs?
Under ICC playing conditions in force since July 2025, a men's ODI innings starts with two new balls, one from each end. After the 34th over the fielding side picks one of them for the remaining overs. If a match is cut to 25 overs a side or fewer before it starts, only one new ball is used.
Which format suits all-rounders best?
All-rounders can be valuable in every format, but the bowling quota matters. In a T20, an all-rounder who bowls four overs and bats in the top six is a strong pick. In an ODI, check whether they actually bowl close to ten overs.