The 2025 edition of the Vitality T20 Blast is one of the most anticipated tournaments in the English domestic calendar. Featuring 18 first-class counties split across two groups, the competition promises high-intensity cricket and a platform for emerging talents and international stars alike.
Tournament Overview
- Organizer: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
- Format: Group Stage + Knockouts
- Groups: North Group and South Group
- Matches: 133 total
- Start Date: May 29, 2025
- Finals Day: September 13, 2025 (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
- Venues: Matches are being hosted across England and Wales, including Old Trafford, Lord’s, Edgbaston, The Oval, Trent Bridge, and Headingley.
The tournament uses a double round-robin format within each group. The top four teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, leading to the semi-finals and the grand final. Finals Day—one of the highlights of the English cricket calendar—features both semi-finals and the final played on the same day at Edgbaston.
Teams, Captains, and Key Players
North Group
Team | Captain | Overseas Players | Key Players |
---|---|---|---|
Lancashire Lightning | Keaton Jennings | Daryl Mitchell (NZ) | James Anderson, Liam Livingstone |
Nottinghamshire Outlaws | Steven Mullaney | Colin Munro (NZ), Shaheen Afridi (PAK) | Alex Hales, Joe Clarke |
Yorkshire Vikings | Adam Lyth | Shai Hope (WI) | Dawid Malan, Jordan Thompson |
Durham | Scott Borthwick | David Bedingham (SA) | Ben Raine, Graham Clark |
Worcestershire Rapids | Brett D’Oliveira | Mitchell Santner (NZ) | Jake Libby, Pat Brown |
Derbyshire Falcons | Leus du Plooy | Suranga Lakmal (SL) | Wayne Madsen, George Scrimshaw |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks | Josh Cobb | Sikandar Raza (ZIM) | Ricardo Vasconcelos, Ben Sanderson |
Leicestershire Foxes | Colin Ackermann | Peter Handscomb (AUS) | Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson |
Birmingham Bears | Will Rhodes | Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | Sam Hain, Chris Woakes |
South Group
Team | Captain | Overseas Players | Key Players |
Surrey | Sam Curran | Sunil Narine (WI), Sean Abbott (AUS) | Will Jacks, Jason Roy |
Somerset | Tom Abell | Riley Meredith (AUS), Matt Henry (NZ) | Tom Banton, Craig Overton |
Hampshire Hawks | James Vince | Benny Howell (AUS), Nathan Ellis (AUS) | Liam Dawson, Chris Wood |
Essex Eagles | Simon Harmer | Daniel Sams (AUS) | Dan Lawrence, Matt Critchley |
Kent Spitfires | Sam Billings | Kane Richardson (AUS) | Zak Crawley, Fred Klaassen |
Sussex Sharks | Ravi Bopara | Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) | Tymal Mills, Ali Orr |
Glamorgan | David Lloyd | Marnus Labuschagne (AUS) | Michael Hogan, Andrew Salter |
Middlesex | Stephen Eskinazi | Martin Andersson (NZ) | Max Holden, Blake Cullen |
Gloucestershire | Jack Taylor | Marchant de Lange (SA) | Miles Hammond, David Payne |
Full Fixture Schedule
Due to the large number of matches (133), only the opening fixtures and key dates are highlighted here. For a complete schedule, consult the ECB or ESPNcricinfo.
Opening Weekend Highlights:
- May 29: Lancashire vs Worcestershire – Old Trafford
- May 30: Surrey vs Somerset – The Oval
- May 31: Nottinghamshire vs Birmingham Bears – Trent Bridge
- June 1: Hampshire vs Essex – The Rose Bowl
Finals Day:
- Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
- Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Events: Two semi-finals and the final, all on the same day
Points Table (Updated as of June 1, 2025)
North Group
Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | Points |
Nottinghamshire Outlaws | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Lancashire Lightning | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Durham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Leicestershire Foxes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Northamptonshire Steelbacks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Derbyshire Falcons | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Birmingham Bears | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Yorkshire Vikings | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Worcestershire Rapids | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
South Group
Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | Points |
Hampshire Hawks | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Somerset | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Kent Spitfires | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Sussex Sharks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Gloucestershire | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Essex Eagles | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Surrey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Middlesex | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Glamorgan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recent Match Results
- Lancashire vs Worcestershire: Lancashire won by 7 runs
- Nottinghamshire vs Warwickshire: Nottinghamshire won by 7 wickets
- Surrey vs Somerset: Somerset won by 5 wickets
- Kent vs Gloucestershire: Kent won by 4 runs
- Hampshire vs Essex: Hampshire won by 106 runs
Predictions & Insights
Title Contenders
- Surrey: Depth in both batting and bowling. Sunil Narine’s T20 expertise adds experience and variation. Will Jacks and Curran can win games single-handedly.
- Somerset: Perhaps the most balanced side in 2025. An explosive top order, backed by Overton and Henry, makes them a threat in all conditions.
- Hampshire Hawks: Backed by form and experience, James Vince leads a side that rarely falters in crucial moments. Top-two finish expected.
Dark Horses
- Kent Spitfires: The team has shown glimpses of brilliance. If Crawley or Billings hits form, Kent can upset bigger names.
- Durham: With their bowlers peaking early, they may become the surprise package of the North Group.
Betting Tips
Outright Winner Picks
- Surrey: Best value for long-term bets due to balance and consistency
- Somerset: Safe pick with high return on investment
- Hampshire: Excellent choice based on early momentum
Player Markets
- Top Batsmen:
- Will Jacks (Surrey)
- Tom Banton (Somerset)
- James Vince (Hampshire)
- Top Bowlers:
- Tymal Mills (Sussex)
- Craig Overton (Somerset)
- Nathan Ellis (Hampshire)
Match Betting Strategy
- Chasing teams have a better win rate in the Blast historically—check toss results.
- Weather and pitch conditions play a major role at venues like Cardiff, Canterbury, and Headingley.
- Live betting: Back heavy-hitters in the final overs; expect rapid changes in odds.
Please bet responsibly and only through legal and regulated platforms in your region.