Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Strengthening its commitment to strengthening the country’s cricket pipeline, it has announced a comprehensive domestic schedule for the 2026-27 season. A total of 1,788 matches will be played across the men’s and women’s competitions, which will include Under-23, Under-19 and Under-16 categories as well as senior cricket. The packed calendar will run from August 2026 to March 2027 and includes a number of significant changes aimed at improving competition standards and player development.
The domestic season will officially begin with the prestigious duleep trophy at the Center of Excellence on August 23 and will conclude in March 2027 after the final stage of the Ranji Trophy.
Split stage format retained in Ranji Trophy
India’s premier first-class tournament, the ranji trophyWill continue with its split-stage structure that was introduced in recent seasons. The league stage is scheduled to begin on October 11 before white-ball competitions are halted at the end of the year. The tournament will resume in January, with the knockout matches taking place from 9 February to 3 March.
The format is unchanged, with the 32 teams divided into four elite groups of eight teams each, while six sides will contest in the plate division. The top two teams from each elite group will qualify directly for the quarter-finals.
Defending champion Jammu and Kashmir Title Elite Group A along with Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Uttar Pradesh. Elite Group B includes strong sides like Karnataka, Andhra and Saurashtra, while Bengal, Maharashtra and Kerala form a competitive Elite Group C. Mumbai, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have been placed in Elite Group D.
Before the Ranji Trophy begins, the Irani Cup will be played in Srinagar or Jammu from October 1 to 5, further adding to the importance of the red ball calendar.
CK Nayudu Trophy fixture makes long-awaited comeback
The biggest highlight of the newly released calendar is the return of the Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy winners vs Rest of India match. The match, to be held in Chennai from October 1 to 4 under the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), is making a comeback after a long absence.
BCCI believes that this event will provide valuable exposure to the emerging Under-23 players and provide them with exposure to high-pressure, elite domestic cricket.
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Major changes in white ball competitions
In a notable move, both the men’s Under-23 State A Trophy and the Vizzy Trophy have been converted from one-day events to T20 tournaments. The decision reflects the growing importance of the shortest format and the board’s effort to prepare young cricketers for the demands of modern times.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Will be played from 14 November to 6 December. Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Mohali will host the league stage, while Nagpur has been selected for the knockout matches.
The tournament will continue with the Super League format. Teams like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bengal and Karnataka are in Elite Group A, while Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Tamil Nadu are in Elite Group B.
meanwhile, Vijay Hazare Trophy Scheduled from December 14 to January 8. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Ranchi and Rajkot will host the league matches, with Visakhapatnam hosting the knockouts.
Focus on junior cricket and balanced conditions
BCCI has also adjusted the schedule of junior tournaments. Vijay Merchant Trophy The November-January window for the Under-16 category has been shifted to improve preparation time for young players.
Another important change is of concern Cooch Behar Trophy Instead of the knockout home venues, all the knockout matches of the Under-19 red-ball competition will now be held in Bengaluru and Mysore. The move is aimed at ensuring better playing conditions during the winter months, when weather conditions vary significantly in different regions of India.