Vitality T20 Blast 2025: Shocking Stats, Star Players, and T20 Blast Teams You Need to Know
Vitality T20 Blast 2025: Star Players, T20 Blast Teams, and Shocking Stats – Will It Attract More Fans or Fade Behind the IPL?
Just like the IPL brings excitement every year, England and Wales have their own T20 Blast cricket event called the Vitality T20 blast. Think of it as a fast-paced cricket tournament. It is full of big hits, great catches, and exciting finishes that keep you excited. It's a big deal in summer, and as we look forward to the 2025 season, the buzz is already building!
How it All Started: The Story of the T20 Blast
The T20 Blast began back in 2003, even before the IPL took place! The cricket board in England and Wales (ECB) started it because they wanted to make cricket more exciting, especially for younger fans. They wanted a fast-paced game that everyone could enjoy, even if they didn't have the time for longer matches. The first tournament was a huge hit, and the Surrey Lions were the first champions.
Over the years, the tournament has had different names due to sponsorships. These include Friends Provident T20, Friends Life T20, and NatWest T20 Blast. Now, since 2018, it's known as the Vitality Blast. The 2024 season was special because Gloucestershire won their first-ever title!
The way the tournament works now is that 18 teams are divided into two groups -- North and South -- with nine teams in each. Each team plays 14 matches in the group stage. The top four teams from each group then qualify for the quarter-finals. The winners of these quarter-finals will go to the big Finals Day. On this day, both semi-finals and the final are played at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Two teams, Leicestershire Foxes and Hampshire Hawks, have been the most successful, winning the title three times each.
T20 Blast Winners and Runners-Up (2003-2024)
| Year | Winner | Winning Margin | Runner-up | Venue |
| 2003 | Surrey Lions | Won by 9 wickets | Warwickshire Bears | Trent Bridge |
| 2004 | Leicestershire Foxes | Won by 7 wickets | Surrey Lions | Edgbaston |
| 2005 | Somerset Sabres | Won by 7 wickets | Lancashire Lightning | The Oval |
| 2006 | Leicestershire Foxes | Won by 4 runs | Notts Outlaws | Trent Bridge |
| 2007 | Kent Spitfires | Won by 4 wickets | Gloucestershire Gladiators | Edgbaston |
| 2008 | Middlesex Crusaders | Won by 3 runs | Kent Spitfires | The Rose Bowl |
| 2009 | Sussex Sharks | Won by 63 runs | Somerset Sabres | Edgbaston |
| 2010 | Hampshire Royals | Won by losing fewer wickets (scores level) | Somerset | The Rose Bowl |
| 2011 | Leicestershire Foxes | Won by 18 runs | Somerset | Edgbaston |
| 2012 | Hampshire Royals | Won by 10 runs | Yorkshire Carnegie | Sophia Gardens |
| 2013 | Northants Steelbacks | Won by 102 runs (D/L) | Surrey | Edgbaston |
| 2014 | Birmingham Bears | Won by 4 runs | Lancashire Lightning | Edgbaston |
| 2015 | Lancashire Lightning | Won by 13 runs | Northants Steelbacks | Edgbaston |
| 2016 | Northants Steelbacks | Won by 4 wickets | Durham Jets | Edgbaston |
| 2017 | Notts Outlaws | Won by 22 runs | Birmingham Bears | Edgbaston |
| 2018 | Worcestershire Rapids | Won by 5 wickets | Sussex Sharks | Edgbaston |
| 2019 | Essex Eagles | Won by 4 wickets | Worcestershire Rapids | Edgbaston |
| 2020 | Notts Outlaws | Won by 6 wickets | Surrey | Edgbaston |
| 2021 | Kent Spitfires | Won by 25 runs | Somerset | Edgbaston |
| 2022 | Hampshire Hawks | Won by 1 run | Lancashire Lightning | Edgbaston |
| 2023 | Somerset | Won by 14 runs | Essex | Edgbaston |
| 2024 | Gloucestershire | Won by 8 wickets | Somerset | Edgbaston |
The Game Plan: Understanding the T20 Blast Rules
The T20 Blast follows the basic rules of Blast T20 cricket. Each team gets one innings to bat for a maximum of 20 overs. An over has six balls. You score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets. If the ball crosses the boundary on the ground, it's four runs, and if it flies over, it's a six! There are different ways a batsman can get out, like bowled, caught, run out, and LBW.
In the T20 Blast, there are some specific rules too. A bowler can only bowl a maximum of four overs in an innings. For the first six overs, called the powerplay, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. After that, up to five fielders can be outside. If there's a tie in the match, they play a Super Over to decide the winner. If it’s still tied after the Super Over, the team that hit more sixes in the original match wins. If the sixes are also equal, then the team with more fours wins.
The journey to the Finals Day starts with the group stage. The top four teams from each group, North and South, go to the quarter-finals. These are single matches. The higher-ranked teams usually play at home. The four winners then go to the Finals Day at Edgbaston.
What to Watch Out For: The 2025 Season
Cricket fans in India and around the world are excited for the 2025 T20 Blast season. It starts on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The final match will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Edgbaston. The opening day features some thrilling matches, including Lancashire against Worcestershire and Middlesex versus Sussex.
This year is special because the men's and women's tournaments are happening together. There will be 52 matches where both teams play one after the other on the same day! The group matches will be played in June and July across different grounds in England and Wales. The quarter-finals will be in early September, from the 2nd to the 5th.
The 18 participating teams are divided into two fiercely competitive groups:
T20 Blast Teams 2025 by Group
| North Group | South Group |
| Birmingham Bears | Essex Eagles |
| Derbyshire Falcons | Glamorgan |
| Durham | Gloucestershire |
| Lancashire Lightning | Hampshire Hawks |
| Leicestershire Foxes | Kent Spitfires |
| Northants Steelbacks | Middlesex |
| Notts Outlaws | Somerset |
| Worcestershire Rapids | Surrey |
| Yorkshire | Sussex Sharks |
Keep an eye on the defending champions, Gloucestershire, as they try to win again. Surrey has not won since the first tournament in 2003. However, they are still strong contenders. They have players like Ollie Pope and the Curran brothers. Lancashire Lightning has strong players like Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone. They are expected to perform well. Notts Outlaws have added Moises Henriques, an experienced Australian all-rounder, to their team. In the first Women's T20 Vitality Blast, teams like Lancashire Thunder and The Blaze are likely to be top contenders. The Blaze includes the new England captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt.
There are some interesting stories to follow this season. Can Gloucestershire defend their title? Will Surrey finally win again after so long? And who will be the first champions of the Women's T20 Blast? These are just some of the questions that will make the 2025 season exciting to watch.
Vitality T20 Blast Schedule 2025 - Key Matches
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| May 29 | Lancashire vs Worcestershire | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 3:30 PM |
| May 29 | Middlesex vs Sussex | Lord's, London | 3:30 PM |
| May 30 | Gloucestershire vs Kent | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 3:30 PM |
| May 30 | Hampshire vs Essex | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 3:30 PM |
| May 30 | Leicestershire vs Derbyshire | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 3:30 PM |
| May 30 | Notts Outlaws vs Birmingham Bears | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:30 PM |
| May 30 | Somerset vs Surrey | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | 3:30 PM |
| May 30 | Yorkshire vs Northamptonshire | Headingley, Leeds | 3:30 PM |
| May 31 | Birmingham Bears vs Durham | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| May 31 | Lancashire vs Nottinghamshire | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 1 | Durham vs Lancashire | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 1 | Essex vs Somerset | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 1 | Middlesex vs Glamorgan | Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 1 | Northamptonshire vs Leicestershire | County Ground, Northampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 1 | Sussex vs Gloucestershire | 1st Central County Ground, Hove | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 1 | Worcestershire vs Yorkshire | Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 3 | Glamorgan vs Surrey | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 4 | Derbyshire vs Northamptonshire | County Ground, Derby | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 4 | Lancashire vs Leicestershire | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 5 | Middlesex vs Kent | Lord's, London | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 5 | Surrey vs Hampshire | Kia Oval, London | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Birmingham Bears vs Yorkshire | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Derbyshire vs Notts Outlaws | County Ground, Derby | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Glamorgan vs Essex | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Hampshire vs Gloucestershire | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Kent vs Surrey | Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Leicestershire vs Durham | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Sussex vs Somerset | 1st Central County Ground, Hove | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 6 | Worcestershire vs Northamptonshire | Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 7 | Notts Outlaws vs Worcestershire | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 8 | Birmingham Bears vs Derbyshire | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 8 | Essex vs Middlesex | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 8 | Kent vs Hampshire | Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 8 | Lancashire vs Northamptonshire | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 8 | Sussex vs Glamorgan | 1st Central County Ground, Hove | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 8 | Yorkshire vs Leicestershire | Headingley, Leeds | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 11 | Durham vs Derbyshire | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 11 | Northamptonshire vs Birmingham Bears | County Ground, Northampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 11 | Notts Outlaws vs Yorkshire | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 12 | Essex vs Glamorgan | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 12 | Somerset vs Middlesex | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 12 | Surrey vs Kent | Kia Oval, London | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Gloucestershire vs Somerset | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Hampshire vs Middlesex | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Northamptonshire vs Durham | County Ground, Northampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Notts Outlaws vs Derbyshire | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Sussex vs Essex | 1st Central County Ground, Hove | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Worcestershire vs Lancashire | Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 13 | Yorkshire vs Birmingham Bears | Headingley, Leeds | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 14 | Birmingham Bears vs Notts Outlaws | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 14 | Derbyshire vs Leicestershire | County Ground, Derby | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 14 | Glamorgan vs Sussex | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 15 | Gloucestershire vs Glamorgan | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 15 | Leicestershire vs Worcestershire | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 15 | Somerset vs Kent | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 15 | Yorkshire vs Durham | York Cricket Club, York | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 17 | Hampshire vs Surrey | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 18 | Kent vs Gloucestershire | Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 18 | Surrey vs Sussex | Kia Oval, London | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 18 | Worcestershire vs Durham | Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 19 | Leicestershire vs Notts Outlaws | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 19 | Middlesex vs Essex | Lord's, London | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 19 | Somerset vs Hampshire | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Birmingham Bears vs Worcestershire | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Derbyshire vs Lancashire | County Ground, Derby | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Durham vs Yorkshire | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Essex vs Kent | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Glamorgan vs Somerset | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Gloucestershire vs Hampshire | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Northamptonshire vs Notts Outlaws | County Ground, Northampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jun 20 | Surrey vs Middlesex | Kia Oval, London | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Somerset vs Glamorgan | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Durham vs Nottinghamshire | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Leicestershire vs Warwickshire | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Essex vs Gloucestershire | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Yorkshire vs Worcestershire | Headingley, Leeds | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Kent vs Sussex | Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 4 | Northamptonshire vs Lancashire | County Ground, Northampton | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 5 | Sussex vs Hampshire | 1st Central County Ground, Hove | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 5 | Lancashire vs Derbyshire | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 3:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Hampshire vs Somerset | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Gloucestershire vs Middlesex | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Glamorgan vs Kent | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Surrey vs Essex | Kia Oval, London | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Northamptonshire vs Worcestershire | County Ground, Northampton | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Nottinghamshire vs Leicestershire | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Derbyshire vs Yorkshire | Queen's Park, Chesterfield | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 6 | Durham vs Warwickshire | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 7 | Somerset vs Essex | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 9 | Warwickshire vs Lancashire | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 9 | Sussex vs Kent | 1st Central County Ground, Hove | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 9 | Middlesex vs Hampshire | Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 9 | Gloucestershire vs Surrey | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 10 | Leicestershire vs Northamptonshire | Grace Road, Leicester | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 10 | Derbyshire vs Worcestershire | County Ground, Derby | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 10 | Hampshire vs Glamorgan | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Nottinghamshire vs Durham | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Lancashire vs Yorkshire | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Kent vs Somerset | Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire | County Ground, Northampton | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Middlesex vs Gloucestershire | Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Essex vs Sussex | Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Surrey vs Glamorgan | Kia Oval, London | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 11 | Worcestershire vs Warwickshire | Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | 6:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Lancashire vs Durham | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Kent vs Middlesex | Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Warwickshire vs Northamptonshire | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Yorkshire vs Derbyshire | Headingley, Leeds | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Hampshire vs Sussex | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Worcestershire vs Leicestershire | Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Surrey vs Somerset | Kia Oval, London | 4:30 PM |
| Jul 13 | Glamorgan vs Gloucestershire | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 4:30 PM |
Knockout Stage
- Quarter-finals: September 2nd to 5th, 2025
- Finals Day (Semi-finals and Final): Saturday, September 13th, 2025 at Edgbaston, Birmingham
More Than Just Cricket: Why the T20 Blast Matters
The T20 Blast is very important for cricket in England. It gives all 18 county teams a chance to play in the popular T20 format. The money earned from ticket sales and fans helps the counties financially. It’s also a great place for young and experienced players to improve their skills in a competitive environment. Did you know that the T20 Blast is the oldest domestic T20 league in the world, starting in 2003?
The T20 Blast has changed cricket worldwide. Since it started early, it helped other countries create their own T20 leagues, like our IPL! leagues, including our very own IPL! The tournament also attracts players from different countries, which brings new talent and ideas to the game. Fans enjoy the T20 Blast because it is quick and exciting. It attracts large crowds, including many young people and families. This helps the sport to grow. In 2025, they will hold more men's and women's matches together. This aims to make cricket more equal and inclusive.
Final Thoughts: Get Ready for the Blast!
As the 2025 season of the T20 Blast gets closer, the excitement is definitely building. Cricket fans can look forward to lots of thrilling matches and amazing performances. The defending champions want to stay on top. Other teams are eager for victory. With the Women's T20 Blast added, this season will be great. The T20 Blast has a long history and has made a big impact on cricket, both in England and globally. So, get ready to witness another chapter of explosive T20 cricket starting on May 29th!
