Is CLT20 coming back? All signs point to yes! The beloved Champions League T20, a tournament that once thrilled fans by bringing together top T20 franchises from around the world, is set for a grand revival. Rebranded as the World Club Championship (WCC), this global showcase is expected to make its much-anticipated return in 2026. With leading teams from major T20 leagues participating, the next CLT20—in spirit and spectacle—promises to reignite the excitement of international franchise cricket and recapture the magic that made CLT20 a fan favorite.
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What Is CLT20?（Reimagined as the World Club Championship）
The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) was an annual international T20 cricket tournament that brought together the top-performing domestic franchise teams from leading cricketing nations. First introduced in 2008 and played from 2009 to 2014, the tournament was a collaboration between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia, and Cricket South Africa.
Rules and Format
Its structure mirrored that of the UEFA Champions League in football, aiming to showcase the best of domestic talent on a global stage. The format followed a group-stage and knockout model, with teams split into pools and the top sides advancing to semifinals and then the final. Matches followed standard T20 rules, including 20 overs per side, fielding restrictions during the powerplay, a maximum of four overseas players per team, and Super Overs in case of ties.
CLT20 Stopped in 2015
What made CLT20 especially captivating was its global club-versus-club format, creating matchups fans rarely had the chance to see. For the first time, IPL giants like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians competed against teams from the Big Bash League (Australia), Caribbean Premier League, and South African domestic circuits. The competition wasn’t just about regional pride but represented the rise of club cricket as a powerful new form of fan engagement, with international stars playing alongside and against each other in high-stakes environments. Despite its potential, CLT20 was discontinued in 2015 due to low TV ratings, lack of major sponsorships, and scheduling conflicts with international cricket tours.
Scheduled to Comeback in 2026
Now, in response to the booming global T20 ecosystem, the spirit of CLT20 is set to return under a new banner—the World Club Championship (WCC), slated for a potential launch in 2026. This rebranded tournament aims to feature both men’s and women’s champion franchises from leagues such as the IPL, BBL, PSL, SA20, The Hundred, ILT20, and Major League Cricket (USA). With a tentative group-plus-knockout format and a match window being finalized, the WCC hopes to rekindle the excitement of the original tournament for a new generation. And for Indian fans wondering, is CLT20 coming back—this next CLT20, in all but name, promises not just nostalgia but a bigger, better global spectacle.
🚨 CLT20 RETURNS IN NEW AVATAR FROM 2026! 🚨
A World Club Championship inspired by CLT20 set for 2026.
Champions from IPL, SA20, Big Bash, The Hundred & other leagues to clash.
(Source: The Cricketer) pic.twitter.com/sB08o4X42w— Abhinav MSDian™ (@Abhinav_hariom) July 2, 2025
Why Did CLT20 Stop?
The Champions League T20 (CLT20) was discontinued after 2014 and remained inactive for over a decade due to several key challenges:
- Low Television Ratings: Despite featuring star-studded lineups, the tournament struggled to attract consistent viewership, especially outside India.
- Lack of Sponsorship: With limited fan engagement and inconsistent broadcast success, major sponsors were hesitant to invest, making the event financially unsustainable.
- Scheduling Conflicts: The international cricket calendar grew increasingly crowded, making it difficult to find a suitable window that didn’t clash with national commitments or domestic leagues.
These factors collectively led to the tournament’s discontinuation in 2015, despite its potential. The upcoming revival aims to capitalize on the explosive growth of global T20 leagues and a far more engaged fanbase.
Fans Can Expect to See Virat Kohli Play
So, is CLT20 coming back? While the original name may stay in the past, its spirit is set to be reborn through the World Club Championship (WCC) in 2026. This rebranded tournament promises to deliver everything fans once loved about CLT20—international club rivalries, star-studded line-ups, and high-octane T20 action—now backed by a much stronger global franchise ecosystem and a more enthusiastic audience.
🚨 CLT20 TO RETURN FROM 2026. 🚨
– The World Club Championship inspired by CLT20 to be launched in 2026.
– Champions from the IPL, SA20, Big Bash, The Hundred and other leagues will take part. (The Cricketer). pic.twitter.com/VxpF9bUWc9
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 2, 2025
If the next CLT20 in the form of WCC does take place, Indian fans have even more reason to celebrate. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru crowned IPL 2025 champions, they are likely to represent India on this world stage. And that means the return of Virat Kohli to global franchise cricket—a prospect that will not only ignite nostalgia but also bring unparalleled excitement as one of cricket’s greatest icons steps up once more for club glory.
