BCCI makes Major Changes to Domestic Calendar - Zonal change in Duleep Trophy to Plate Group in Vijay Hazare, Check Full List

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in its 28th Apex Council Meeting held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, announced a slew of structural changes across domestic tournaments.

BCCI has made particular emphasis on the senior men's calendar. The updates are aimed at enhancing competitiveness, streamlining tournament structures, and introducing merit-based progression across formats.

BCCI makes Key Changes to Senior Men's Domestic Tournaments

Zonal Revival in Duleep Trophy

The prestigious Duleep Trophy will return to its zonal roots, now featuring six teams representing the North, South, East, West, Central, and North-East zones. Teams will be selected by respective zonal selectors, marking a shift from previous formats that involved mixed or BCCI-picked squads. This is expected to revive traditional rivalries and regional pride in red-ball cricket.

Revised Tournament Format for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

In a significant format shift, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's premier domestic T20 competition, will now do away with the straight knockout phase. Instead, it will introduce a Super League stage post the group phase, allowing top-performing teams another round of competitive matches before progressing to the semifinals and final. The move is designed to give more high-stakes matches to emerging talents and better prepare them for top-tier cricket.

Plate Group Restructuring and Promotion/Relegation Reforms

To strengthen the competitive structure of limited-overs cricket, the BCCI has restructured the Plate Group across age categories, including the senior men's tournaments. The bottom six teams, as per last season's rankings, will be placed in the Plate Group. Crucially, the promotion/relegation policy has been revised, with only one team allowed to move up or down between the Elite and Plate Groups each season. This change puts greater weight on consistent performance while maintaining a clear incentive for lower-ranked teams.

New Grouping Model for Vijay Hazare Trophy

The Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's flagship 50-over competition, will now follow a 4 Elite Groups and 1 Plate Group mode, another step toward balancing competitiveness and logistical efficiency. This structure is also being mirrored in other major tournaments like the Men's U23 State A Trophy and corresponding women's tournaments.