BCCI domestic home season 2026-27 to feature 1,788 matches
Mumbai, May 20
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced the schedule for the Indian Domestic Season 2026-27, which will feature 1,788 matches across age groups and formats in men's and women's cricket during the course of the season.
The season will feature tournaments across senior, U23, U19 and U16 categories in men's cricket, along with an extensive calendar across senior, U23, U19 and U15 women's competitions, as per a press release from BCCI.
The domestic season will commence with the prestigious Duleep Trophy from August 23, 2026, marking the beginning of another extensive and highly competitive calendar that continues to elevate the standards of domestic cricket in India.
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 red-ball segment of the season will begin with the Duleep Trophy featuring six zonal teams, followed by the Irani Cup from October 1. The Ranji Trophy and the Col CK Nayudu Trophy will continue to be played in a two-phase format, ensuring adequate recovery time for players while continuing to prioritise multi-day cricket in the domestic structure. The Ranji Trophy Elite Group will feature 32 teams across four groups, while the Plate Group will comprise six teams.
The upcoming season will witness the reinstatement of the Col CK Nayudu Trophy Winners vs Rest of India fixture, scheduled from October 1-4, 2026. The match returns to the domestic calendar to provide an enhanced competitive platform for emerging U23 cricketers.
As part of the BCCI's continued efforts to align domestic cricket with the evolving demands of the modern game, the Men's U23 State A Trophy and the Vizzy Trophy have been converted from one-day competitions to T20 tournaments.
In another significant move, the knockout stages of the Cooch Behar Trophy (Elite Group) will be played at Bengaluru and Mysuru. The move aims to ensure greater competitive balance for teams across all regions, particularly during the January knockout window when weather conditions can vary considerably.
Additionally, the Vijay Merchant Trophy (U16) has been advanced in the domestic calendar and will now be played from November to January, allowing for improved scheduling and player preparation.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The move to T20 for U23 tournaments makes sense with how the game is evolving. Players need to adapt to modern demands. Just hope we don't lose sight of longer formats completely. Balance is key. 🇮🇳
Good to see women's domestic cricket getting such a comprehensive calendar across age groups. This kind of structure will help identify talent early and nurture our future Harmanpreets and Mandhanas.
Impressive planning from BCCI. The two-phase format for Ranji Trophy is a smart move - helps with player workload and also ensures better quality cricket across the season.
1788 matches is incredible! This is how you build a strong domestic structure. Would love to see more matches telecast on TV though - so many talented players deserve recognition beyond just the Ranji Trophy.
The decision to hold Cooch Behar Trophy knockouts in Bangalore and Mysuru shows they're thinking about logistics. January weather in north India can be harsh for cricket. Well planned! 🙌
Good calendar but I hope they are also looking at player welfare. 1788
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