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The ultimate guide to the 2025 Vitality T20 Blast
With summer fast approaching, it can only mean one thing – it’s cricket season! And it’s almost time for the return of the most exciting format, with just three weeks to go until the start of the 2025 Vitality T20 Blast season.
On the men’s side, Gloucestershire will be looking to defend their crown after claiming their first ever title last year thanks to a bowling masterclass from Matthew Taylor against Somerset in the final.
Meanwhile, 2025 also sees the introduction of the women’s competition, with 18 counties set to go head-to-head in a mission to be crowned the inaugural champions. Ahead of the brand-new season, here’s everything you need to know.
How does the Vitality T20 Blast work?
As you know, T20 cricket is a much shorter form of the game, with two teams competing across one innings of 20 overs each. This year’s men’s competition gets underway on Thursday 29th May, with Finals Day taking place on Saturday 13th September. The women’s competition is slightly shorter, running from Friday 30th May until Sunday 27th July.
In both competitions, the teams are split into ‘North Group’ and ‘South Group’ in order to reduce the amount of travelling involved. For the men, counties compete in a nine-team group, with the top four progressing through to the quarter-finals. The winners of each quarter-final qualify for Finals Day, where the semis and final are all played consecutively at Edgbaston.
The women’s competition is slightly different, with teams split into League One and League Two. The eight sides in League One will all qualify for the quarter-finals, which then works in the same way as the men’s format. League Two is split into North Group and South Group – the top two counties in each group will automatically progress to Finals Days.
Who are the favourites?
Surrey are among the bookies’ favourites to go all the way in this year’s competition, despite not winning since the inaugural event way back in 2003. In fact, they’re only reached the final three times since then, with their last appearance ending in defeat to Nottinghamshire in 2020.
However, they reached the semi-finals last time out and their team is packed full of talent and players that are capable in white-ball cricket, including Ollie Pope, Tom and Sam Curran and Ben Foakes. Their team is often disrupted by international commitments but their squad is more than capable of challenging.
Last year’s defeated finalists Somerset will be looking to avenge that disappointment at the hands of Gloucestershire and they should have enough to finish near the top of South Group. On the northern side, Birmingham Bears will fancy their chances this year. They narrowly lost to the eventual champions in the 2024 quarter-finals having topped the North Group table.
Lancashire Lightning limped out of the quarter-finals as they lost to Sussex Sharks last time out but the 2015 winners are expected to challenge again, with the likes of Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone in their ranks. Meanwhile, despite finishing bottom of the North Group last summer, Notts Outlaws are hoping to do well.
On the women’s side, the eight sides vying for glory in League One are Birmingham Bears, Durham, Essex Eagles, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey and The Blaze.
As it’s the first edition of the competition, it’s all to play for as all eight counties look to become the maiden champion of the women’s Vitality T20 Blast. Lancashire Thunder may feel they have an advantage after topping their group in last year’s Women’s County One Day competition. However, The Blaze could also be in the running, with new England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt in their side.
Join us for the 2025 Vitality T20 Blast
If you want to watch this year’s T20 action from the best seats in the house, you’re in the right place. We offer exclusive hospitality packages for all Vitality T20 Blast matches at Lord’s and The Oval, as well as for Finals Day at Edgbaston.
Enquire today to reserve your place:
Middlesex v Sussex – Thursday 29th May
Surrey v Hampshire – Thursday 5th June
Middlesex v Kent – Thursday 5th June
Surrey v Kent – Thursday 12th June
Surrey v Sussex – Wednesday 18th June
Middlesex v Essex – Thursday 19th June
Surrey v Middlesex – Friday 20th June
Surrey v Essex – Sunday 6th July
Surrey v Glamorgan – Friday 11th July
Surrey v Somerset – Sunday 13th July
Middlesex v Surrey – Wednesday 16th July
2025 Vitality T20 Blast Finals Day – Saturday 13th September
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