BCCI domestic season 2026-27 to kick off with Duleep Trophy on August 23

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday unveiled the schedule for the Indian domestic season 2026-27, featuring a massive 1,788 matches across men’s and women’s cricket in multiple age groups and formats.

The season will include tournaments in the Senior, U23, U19 and U16 categories in men’s cricket, alongside an extensive calendar for Senior, U23, U19 and U15 women’s competitions.

The domestic campaign will begin with the Duleep Trophy on August 23, 2026.


The red-ball season will open with the Duleep Trophy featuring six zonal teams, followed by the Irani Cup from October 1. The Ranji Trophy and the Col. C. K. Nayudu Trophy will continue in a two-phase format to provide players with adequate recovery time while maintaining the focus on multi-day cricket.

The Ranji Trophy Elite Group will consist of 32 teams divided into four groups, while the Plate Group will feature six teams.

In a notable addition, the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy Winners vs Rest of India fixture will return to the domestic calendar from October 1 to 4, 2026, offering emerging U23 players a stronger competitive platform.

The BCCI has also revamped parts of the limited-overs structure, converting the Men’s U23 State A Trophy and the Vizzy Trophy from one-day tournaments into T20 competitions in line with the evolving demands of modern cricket.

Another key change will see the knockout matches of the Cooch Behar Trophy Elite Group staged in Bengaluru and Mysuru to ensure more balanced playing conditions during the January knockout phase.

Meanwhile, the Vijay Merchant Trophy has been advanced in the calendar and will now be played from November to January to allow better scheduling and improved player preparation.