New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday unveiled the schedule for the 2026-27 domestic cricket season, with the prestigious Ranji Trophy set to begin on October 11 and the Duleep Trophy commencing on August 23.
The upcoming domestic season will feature a massive 1,788 matches across senior and age-group categories for both men and women. Competitions will be organised across Under 16, Under 19, Under 23 and senior categories in men’s cricket, while women’s tournaments will include Under 15, Under 19, Under 23 and senior levels.
In a significant move, the BCCI has decided that the Under 23 white-ball tournament and the inter-zonal university competition for the Vizzy Trophy will now be played in the T20 format, aligning with the evolving demands of modern cricket.
The Duleep Trophy will return to the traditional zonal format and will be held from August 23 to September 10 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the Irani Cup between reigning Ranji champions Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India will be played in Srinagar from October 1 to 5.
The Ranji Trophy will once again be conducted in two phases. The first phase will run from October 11 to November 5 and include four rounds of matches. The second phase is scheduled between January 17 and March 3, 2027, after the completion of the national white-ball tournaments.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will take place from November 14 to December 6, with Mumbai, Mohali, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata hosting the league stage matches, while Nagpur will stage the knockout rounds.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy is scheduled from December 14, 2026, to January 8, 2027. The BCCI has also adjusted the timing of the Vijay Merchant Trophy to run between November and January, helping school cricketers better balance cricket commitments with academic examinations.
