Ranji Trophy to follow two-phase format again, with first leg from October and second phase in January-February
The Duleep Trophy will mark the start of India’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India continuing the two-phase structure for the Ranji Trophy.
The Ranji Trophy will begin on October 11, with the first phase running through October and November before the tournament pauses for the white-ball season. The competition will resume in January and conclude in February 2027.
As in the previous season, 32 teams will compete in the Elite division while six sides will feature in the Plate group.
Following the Duleep Trophy, the domestic calendar will move to the Irani Cup from October 1, where reigning Ranji champions Jammu and Kashmir cricket team will face a Rest of India side.
The middle phase of the season will feature India’s premier white-ball tournaments — the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In women’s cricket, the domestic season begins with the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in October-November, followed by inter-zonal and one-day tournaments through February.
The BCCI has also introduced a new fixture involving the winners of the CK Nayudu Trophy against a Rest of India Under-23 side to provide stronger competition for emerging players.
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 manage weather-related challenges, the Elite division of the Cooch Behar Trophy will be hosted entirely in Bengaluru and Mysuru, while the Vijay Merchant Trophy has been rescheduled to run from November to January for better player preparation and scheduling balance.
