Ranji Trophy 2025-26 To start on October 15, BCCI returns in zonal format for the Duleep trophy
Vidarbha is the defending champions of the Ranji Trophy, while India A (Blues) won the Duleep trophy last year.
The Cricket Control Council in India (BCCI) has decided to return to the original format of the Duleep trophy. Since the creation of the tournament in 1961 and with the exception of the 2016-2019 period, the Duleep trophy has been planned in a zonal format. Last year, the six original zonal teams were changed into four teams (India A, B, C and D).
The Duleep trophy returns to an old format
But the BCCI has changed heart. The zonal teams (north, east, northeast, central, west and south) will be back. This means that more domestic artists will have a chance. And the number of cricket players who can participate can also be increased. This decision was confirmed in March after a meeting of the BCCI Apex Council, and it will be promulgated now.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Start date
We also have a start date for the Ranji 2025-26 trophy season. Last year, the first national national ball tournament began on October 11. This time, it’s October 15. As in 2024, the Ranji trophy will be in two phases. The first will take place from October 15 to November 19, because 5 games will be played.
Then we will have the Syed Mushtaq Ali (SMAT) trophy in December and the Vijay Hazare (VHT) trophy in January. Then, as last year, the Ranji trophy restarts at the end of January. The dates of the 2 remaining group phase games will be played, then the games to follow to follow will be on January 22 to February 28.
Unlike the last season, where two teams could be promoted from plaque to the elite, in the 2025-26 season, only one team will be promoted. Only one team can be relegated. This will occur in the Ranji, Smat and VHT trophy.
Super league
Instead of regular direct elimination matches, this year, BCCI has introduced a super league format for Smat Elite and Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Elite. The two best teams in each group will qualify for the Super League and each of these teams will play 3 games.
Indian national cricket season schedule 2025-2026
| League (Start date) |
League (End date) |
Direct elimination stage (Start date) |
Direct elimination stage (End date) |
Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duleep trophy | _ | _ | 28-25 | 15-SEP-25 | Center of Excellence |
| Iranian cut | _ | _ | 01-COT-25 | 05-COT-25 | Nagpur / neutral |
| Ranji trophy (elite) | 15-COT-25 to 19-NOV-25 (phase 1) | 22-Jan-26 on 01-FEB-26 (phase 2) | 06-FEB-26 | 28 Féb-26 | Home / About |
| Ranji trophy (plate) | 15-COT-25 | 19-NOV-25 | Jan 22-26 | June 26-26 | Home / About |
| Smat (elite) | 26-NOV-25 | 08-DEC-25 | 12-Dec-25 | 18-Dec-25 | Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata (League) Indore (Knockout) |
| Smat (plate) | 26-NOV-25 | 04-DEC-25 | 06-DEC-25 | 06-DEC-25 | Pune |
| VHT (elite) | 24-Dec-25 | 08-Jan-26 | 12-JUAN-26 | January 18-26 | Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jaipur, Bangalore (League) Center of Excellence (Knockout) |
| VHT (plate) | 24-Dec-25 | 03-Jan-26 | 06-Jan-26 | 06-Jan-26 | Rush |
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