Ranji Trophy to begin on October 11 with domestic calendar featuring 1788 matches across formats and categories
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has unveiled the schedule for the 2026-27 domestic season, which will feature 1788 matches across men’s, women’s and age-group cricket.
The season will begin with the Duleep Trophy on August 23, with six zonal teams competing in the traditional red-ball tournament.
The prestigious Ranji Trophy will once again be played in a two-phase format. The first phase will run from October to November 2026, before the tournament resumes in January and concludes in February 2027.
As in the previous season, the Ranji Trophy will feature 32 Elite teams and six Plate-group teams.
Between the two Ranji phases, India’s domestic calendar will include the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The season’s second major event will be the Irani Cup from October 1, where defending Ranji champions Jammu and Kashmir cricket team will face a Rest of India side.
A new addition this season will see the winners of the CK Nayudu Trophy take on a Rest of India Under-23 team, aimed at providing greater exposure for emerging cricketers.
The women’s domestic season will begin with the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in October-November, followed by inter-zonal competitions and one-day tournaments running through February.
Meanwhile, the Men’s U-23 State A Trophy and the Vizzy Trophy will now be played in the T20 format instead of one-day cricket.
To address weather concerns, the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy Elite phase will be held entirely in Bengaluru and Mysuru, while the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy has been moved earlier in the calendar to improve scheduling and player preparation.
The BCCI said the expanded domestic structure reflects its commitment to maintaining a strong and competitive pathway system across all formats and age groups.
