The BCCI has decided to change Indian domestic cricket. The Duleep Trophy will be returned to its old format, while the Ranji Trophy has also announced the start date of 2025-26.
The Ranji Trophy will be played in two phases from October 15 to February 28. One team will be promoted for next season after the final in 2026, when a team will be demoted.
In the 2018-19 season, the BCCI included 9 new teams in the Ranji Trophy, including the North-East teams. The decision has affected the level of premium cricket locally. Last season, Meghalaya lost all seven matches in the Ranji Trophy Elite Division. This change will apply to all age group cricket tournaments in Red Ball Cricket. The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season will begin on October 15 and the first phase will be played by November 19. The knockout match will be played from February 6 to February 28.
A change in the Duleep Trophy
In the last season of the Duleep Trophy, the teams were named India A, India B, India C and India D. Now the teams are returning to the Duleep Trophy on the basis of the zone. This means that the teams of India West, India East, India South, India North, India Central and India North East will play in the Duleep Trophy next season. The Duleep Trophy will begin on August 28 and the Women’s Inter-Zone Multi-Day Trophy will end on April 3, 2026.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Senior Women’s T20 Trophy is increasing the super league stage instead of the knockout phase. Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy and Men’s Under-23 State-A Trophy will be implemented by 4 elite groups and one plate group model.
