BCCI unveils 2026-27 domestic schedule, Duleep Trophy to kick off season on August 23

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the schedule for the Indian Domestic Season 2026-27 on Wednesday, May 20. A total of 1,788 matches will be held across age groups and formats in men’s and women’s cricket during the entire course of the season. The 2026-27 season will feature tournaments across the Senior, U-23, U-19 and U-16 categories in men’s cricket, alongside a comprehensive women’s calendar covering the Senior, U-23, U-19 and U-15 levels.

The upcoming season will begin with the prestigious Duleep Trophy from 23rd August 2026, with the tournament set to feature six zonal teams. It will be followed by the Irani Cup, scheduled to be played from 1st to 5^th October.

The Ranji Trophy, beginning on October 11, and the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy, beginning on October 12, will continue to be contested in two phases, to give 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 also mark the return of the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy Winners vs Rest of India fixture, scheduled from 1st to 4th October 2026. The match will provide an enhanced competitive platform for emerging U23 cricketers.

The BCCI has also converted the Men’s U23 State A Trophy and the Vizzy Trophy from one-day competitions to T20 tournaments, with a view to aligning domestic cricket with the evolving demands of the modern game.

In another major move, the knockout stages of the Cooch Behar Trophy (Elite Group) have been scheduled in Bengaluru and Mysuru to ensure greater competitive balance for teams across all regions, especially considering the variable weather conditions during the January knockout window.

The Vijay Merchant Trophy (U-16) has also been moved up in the domestic calendar and will now be held from November to January, allowing better scheduling and improved player preparation.

Men’s Domestic Tournaments 2026-27 complete schedule

Women’s Domestic Tournaments 2026-27 complete schedule