The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for the 2026-27 domestic cricket season, with the prestigious Ranji Trophy set to begin on October 11. The domestic campaign will kick off with the Duleep Trophy from August 23.
According to the calendar released by the Indian cricket board, the Ranji Trophy will once again be conducted in a two-phase format. The first phase is scheduled from October 11 to November 5, while the second phase will resume from January 17 and continue till March 3, 2027.
Duleep Trophy Returns In Zonal Format
The Duleep Trophy, returning in its traditional zonal format, will be held from August 23 to September 10 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The tournament will mark the beginning of a marathon domestic season featuring 1,788 matches across multiple categories.
The season will also feature the Irani Cup between reigning Ranji champions Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India from October 1 to 5 in Srinagar.
Major Changes In Domestic Structure
The BCCI said the new domestic structure reflects its commitment to strengthening grassroots and senior-level cricket in India. Competitions will be organised across U-16, U-19, U-23 and senior categories for men, alongside U-15, U-19, U-23 and senior tournaments for women.
In a significant change, the U-23 State A Trophy and the inter-zonal Vizzy Trophy university competition will now be played in the T20 format.
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