NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the schedule for the 2026-27 domestic season, confirming that the Ranji Trophy will retain its two-stage structure. The Ranji Trophy is slated to start on October 11, while the domestic campaign begins earlier with the Duleep Trophy on August 23.
The forthcoming season will run across a total of 1,788 matches spanning multiple formats for both men and women. On the men’s side, the calendar includes Under-16, Under-19, Under-23 and senior competitions, while the women’s circuit features Under-15, Under-19, Under-23 and senior events.
Alongside the dates, the BCCI has also introduced a key format revision: the U-23 one-day tournament and the inter-zonal university competition for the Vizzy Trophy will now be conducted in the T20 format, reflecting the changing requirements of modern cricket.
“The 2026-27 domestic season reflects the BCCI’s continued commitment to building a strong and competitive domestic structure while ensuring a balanced progression across formats and categories,” the board said in its official release.
Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup and Ranji Trophy dates
The Duleep Trophy, which returns to the zonal setup, will be staged from August 23 to September 10. All matches of the tournament will take place at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
The Irani Cup—played between Ranji Trophy winners Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India—has been scheduled for October 1 to 5 in Srinagar.
The Ranji Trophy, considered the blue-riband event of the BCCI domestic calendar, will be split into two phases. The first phase runs from October 11 to November 5, with four rounds scheduled during that period.
The second phase is set for January 17 to March 3, 2027. This stretch will follow the completion of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (National T20s) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (National 50-over competition).
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be held between November 14 and December 6. For the league stage, matches will be played across four venues: Mumbai, Mohali, Vizag and Kolkata. The knockout phase will be staged in Nagpur.
The timing of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been structured to give talent scouts adequate time to prepare their shortlists ahead of the IPL auction, which will be conducted sometime in December.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy is scheduled from December 14, 2026 to January 8, 2027.
Age-group tournaments and Vizzy Trophy shift
A positive scheduling decision highlighted by the BCCI is the placement of the Vijay Merchant Trophy (U16) from November through January. The board said this approach will allow for better planning of the calendar and more time for player preparation.
This scheduling window is also expected to help school cricketers manage their academic commitments, as annual or board examinations typically take place in February and March.
