Champions League T20 is Back: IPL, Big Bash, and More to Clash in 2026 Showdown

The World Club Championship, a bigger, more exciting, and truly global version of the old Champions League T20 (CLT20), is all set to make a comeback in 2026. As reported by The Cricketer, this brand-new tournament is planned to kick off next year, bringing top club teams from around the world back into the spotlight.

Champions League T20 will return in 2026 with a new global look

The new tournament will bring together the champion teams from top T20 leagues around the world. The winning sides from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), SA20, and even The Hundred will face off in a global contest to decide the best of the best, the World Club Championship.

The idea has received solid backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and even ICC Chairman Jay Shah is in favour of it. Interestingly, the ECB is pushing for the team that wins The Hundred to represent them in the new version of the Champions League T20, rather than the usual winner of the Vitality Blast.

World Club Championship Set to Return for Men and Women

ECB CEO Richard Gould has hinted that the launch of the World Club Championship is all but confirmed. Gould even suggested that a women’s version of this tournament could happen too. He stated, “That is on the cards. Without a doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That's the next logical step.”

The new tournament will follow a similar format to the old Champions League T20, but with more excitement, bigger reach, and top teams from across the globe.

Why Did the Champions League T20 Fail, And Could It Make a Comeback?

The Champions League T20 began in 2009 with high hopes. It was meant to bring the best T20 cricket teams from around the world together. But by 2015, the tournament came to an end. Fewer people were watching it on TV, sponsors pulled out, and it just didn’t feel like a truly global event anymore. The tournament was heavily dominated by the IPL, with up to three teams playing each year, while teams from other leagues had limited opportunities. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians were the most successful teams in the CLT20, each winning two titles.

Rise of Franchise T20 Leagues Worldwide

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