BCCI Make Big Change To Ranji Trophy Format For 2025-26 Season
"All multi-day men's tournaments (senior and junior), 1 team will be promoted and 1 team will be relegated for the 2026-27 season grouping," read a BCCI note in PTI's possession.
The format change in red ball cricket will apply to all BCCI tournaments across age groups.
The first phase of Ranji Trophy will be played from October 15 to November 19 while the second phase will run from January 22 to February 1. The knockouts will be played from February 6 to 28.
The Duleep Trophy, which returns to the zonal format, will mark the start of the season and will be run from August 28 to September 15. "The team will be picked by the Zonal Selection Committee," the BCCI added.
The Irani Cup will run from October 1 to 5.
Super League introduced for SMAT, Plate Group reintroduced
The Plate division has been reintroduced in all one-day competitions including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Until last season, the knockout games included the standard quarterfinal, semifinal and final stage but from this season, the qualified team will get three extra matches in Super League.
Top team from group A and B will meet in the final. The bottom placed six teams from the last season will form the plate group. The SMAT will be played from November 26 to December 18.
Additionally for all the white ball tournaments, the head to head clause for qualification has been done away with and net run rate will determine which team advances in the competition if they have equal points and wins.
Venues for India-New Zealand white-ball series
The likely venues for the white-ball series against New Zealand from January 11 to 31, 2026 include Hyderabad (first ODI, Jan 11), Rajkot (second ODI, Jan 14), Indore (third ODI, Jan 18, Nagpur (first T20, Jan 21, Ranchi (second T20, Jan 23), Guwahati (third T20, Jan 25), Visakhapatnam (fourth T20, Jan 28), Thiruvananthapuram (fifth T20, Jan 31).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Viewpoint by Vidushpat Singhania
The Union government's initiative to introduce the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha is a significant stride in reforming the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs). While the Bill is intended to apply uniformly across all recognised NSFs, its implications are particularly pronounced in the context of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has historically repelled governmental oversight due to cricket's popularity and financial dominance. The BCCI has maintained that since it does not take any financial grant from the government, it is not subject to policies applicable to other sporting federations. This stand has met with challenges, notably in the landmark BCCI vs the Cricket Association of Bihar 2016 judgment, where the Supreme Court held that the BCCI functions due to a tacit recognition by the Government of India, and the government has the power to regulate its activities through legislation. That legislation is finally near.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Vaibhav Suryavanshi ignored, Mohammed Shami returns as Ishan Kishan named captain in East Zone Duleep Trophy squad
Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami returned to first-class cricket after nearly nine months, earning a spot in East Zone's squad for the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy. However, 14-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, fresh off a record-breaking tour with India Under-19s, did not find a place in the main squad. India's Vaibhav Suryavanshi(Action Images via Reuters) The East Zone selectors unveiled a 15-member squad on Thursday, with Ishan Kishan named captain. Kishan has recently shown strong form for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship Division One, where he struck two half-centuries in as many innings. Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been part of India's Test setup in England, will serve as vice-captain. Shami, 34, last played red-ball cricket for Bengal in November 2024 in the Ranji Trophy. His most recent Test appearance was in the World Test Championship final in June 2023. His inclusion signals a potential return to long-format cricket, as he picked up six wickets in nine matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad during IPL 2025. While Shami's experience adds firepower to East Zone's pace attack—alongside Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep—the omission of young Vaibhav Suryavanshi from the main squad has raised eyebrows. The teenager stunned observers on India Under-19's tour of England last month by smashing the fastest century in Youth ODI history. Despite that, he finds himself among only six standbys. East Zone's selectors appeared to favour experience and domestic consistency, with Jharkhand duo Virat Singh and Sharandeep Singh—top run-scorers in last season's Ranji Trophy—retaining their places. Assam spinner Manishi, who claimed 22 wickets in the Ranji season, also features prominently. Notably absent from the squad is Sudip Chatterjee, Bengal's leading scorer in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, while his teammate Sudip Kumar Gharami has also been relegated to the standbys. The selection was made by a six-member zonal panel representing Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and Tripura, with Jharkhand's Saurabh Tiwary serving as convener. East Zone will open their Duleep Trophy campaign against North Zone in Bengaluru from August 28. The tournament returns in zonal format. The last time it was played in this format in 2023-24, South Zone were the winners. East Zone Squad for 2025-26 Duleep Trophy: Ishan Kishan (capt), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vc), Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Shami Standbys: Mukhtar Hussain, Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Rahul Singh
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Duleep Trophy: Mohammed Shami named in Ishan Kishan-led East Zone squad; Vaibhav Suryavanshi in standby
Mohammed Shami and Vaibhav Suryavanshi India's veteran seamer Mohammed Shami has been selected for the East Zone 15-member squad for the upcoming 2025-26 Duleep Trophy, with Ishan Kishan appointed as captain and Abhimanyu Easwaran as vice-captain. The tournament, scheduled from August 28 to September 15, will mark the beginning of the Indian domestic cricket season. Shami, 34, was last seen in action during the 2025 Indian Premier League, where he claimed six wickets in nine matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad. His most recent first-class appearance was for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy in November 2024. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The East Zone squad features notable players including seamers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar , along with all-rounder Riyan Parag . Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is currently part of India's Test squad in England, will serve as the team's vice-captain. The tournament organizers have also named six standby players, including Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who recently made headlines by scoring the fastest century in Youth ODIs during India Under-19's England tour. Left-arm spinner Manishi, who took 22 wickets in seven games, and Jharkhand's top run-scorers Virat Singh and Sharandeep Singh are also among the standbys. The Duleep Trophy's format has undergone changes in recent years. While South Zone won the tournament in its last zonal format edition in 2023-24, the previous year saw the competition organized with four different Indian squads - A, B, C, and D - selected by the BCCI. Poll What are your expectations for Ishan Kishan as the captain of East Zone? He will lead effectively. He may struggle in the role. It's too early to tell. East Zone will face North Zone in the tournament's opening match, scheduled for August 28 at Bengaluru's Centre of Excellence. The complete East Zone squad comprises Ishan Kishan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Shami. Mukhtar Hussain, Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kumar Gharami, and Rahul Singh are in standbys. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
