The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced significant changes to the format of domestic cricket tournaments. These changes will be implemented in the upcoming domestic season, starting with the Duleep Trophy on August 28th, 2025. The BCCI is introducing a plate group system in the domestic one-day tournaments. The Duleep Trophy will feature two matches commencing on August 28th, with North Zone versus East Zone, and Central Zone versus North East Zone.
The changes affect the format of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, and the Under-23 Men’s State A Trophy, with all teams being divided into four elite groups and one plate group. The bottom six teams will now comprise the plate group. Previously, only two teams would advance from the plate group each season, and two would be relegated. The new structure will see one team promoted or relegated. Furthermore, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy will see the knockout stage replaced by a Super League stage.
Previously, the BCCI decided to implement the elite and plate group format in the Ranji Trophy. The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 tournament will be played in this format, commencing in October.
The primary goal behind these changes is to enhance domestic cricket, allowing for improved performance at all levels and the emergence of talented players. The domestic season begins with the Duleep Trophy on August 28th and will continue until the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy on April 3rd, 2026. These modifications are designed to benefit both men’s and women’s cricket, with the potential to provide opportunities for players to be selected for the national team, especially with important ODI matches scheduled in 2026.