The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed that the upcoming 2026/27 domestic season will witness the U23 men’s one-day tournament being replaced by the T20 format. Additionally, the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy winners vs Rest of India match will make a comeback to the domestic season calendar.
The 2026-27 domestic season is set to feature a total of 1,788 matches encompassing men’s and women’s cricket in various age-group categories. The season will kick off with the prestigious Duleep Trophy scheduled from August 23 to September 10 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Following the Duleep Trophy, the Irani Cup is expected to commence on October 1, likely to be held in either Jammu or Srinagar due to Jammu & Kashmir’s recent victory in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year in Hubbali.
The Ranji Trophy will maintain a two-phase format, with the Elite Group consisting of 32 teams divided into four groups, and the Plate Group featuring six sides in the usual home-and-away format. Moreover, the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy Winners vs Rest of India fixture is scheduled from October 1-4, providing a platform for emerging U23 cricketers to gain more experience in red-ball cricket.
Apart from the Men’s U23 State A Trophy transitioning to T20s, the Vizzy Trophy will also shift to T20s from being a one-day competition. The knockout stages of the Cooch Behar Trophy (Elite Group) will be held in Bengaluru and Mysuru during the January window to ensure competitive balance. The Vijay Merchant Trophy (U16) has been rescheduled to November-January for better scheduling and player readiness.
