The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the domestic calendar for the 2025-26 season, with the Duleep Trophy set to launch the senior men's competitions from August 28, 2025.

A rigorous and strategically layered schedule awaits the players across all formats, reaffirming the BCCI's commitment to nurturing competitive domestic cricket and ensuring continuity in the red- and white-ball ecosystems.

Season Opener: Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup Return

The traditional curtain-raiser, the Duleep Trophy, will take place from August 28 to September 15, 2025. Serving as a key red-ball assessment platform for selectors, this zonal tournament continues to be pivotal for emerging and fringe national players.

Following this, the prestigious Irani Cup-a contest between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India-will be played from October 1 to October 5, 2025, providing another crucial opportunity for players to break into the national setup.

Ranji Trophy: Split-Phase Format Maintained

India's premier first-class competition, the Ranji Trophy, will retain the split-phase format introduced in recent years.

The Elite Division begins with Phase 1 from October 15 to November 19, 2025, followed by Phase 2 from January 22 to February 1, 2026. The knockout rounds will commence shortly after, from February 6 to February 28, 2026.

The Plate Division runs parallel to the Elite phase, starting on October 15 and concluding the league stage by November 19, 2025, with the knockouts set for January 22 to January 26, 2026.

The format ensures continuity and provides adequate rest periods while maintaining competitive intensity throughout the season.

T20 Focus: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December

India's domestic T20 flagship, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, is slated for late November to mid-December. The Elite division will be played from November 26 to December 8, 2025, with the knockout rounds from December 12 to December 18, 2025. The Plate division is on a more compressed schedule, with league matches from November 26 to December 4, 2025, and knockouts taking place on December 6. This T20 leg is crucial for IPL hopefuls and those on the periphery of national white-ball contention.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: 50-Over Battles in the New Year

The 50-over domestic showpiece, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, will span the final weeks of 2025 into early 2026, offering critical preparation and evaluation for ODI prospects. The Elite league stage will run from December 24, 2025, to January 8, 2026. The knockout phase will follow from January 12 to January 18, 2026.

BCCI makes changes in Domestic Tournaments in 2025-26 Season

• Duleep Trophy Format Update: Now contested among six zonal teams selected by zonal selectors.
• Plate Group Restructuring: Introduced across age categories, including senior men. The bottom 6 teams (based on previous season rankings) will compete in the Plate Group for limited overs tournaments.
• Promotion/Relegation Rule Update: Only one team will now be promoted or relegated between the Elite and Plate groups across senior men’s competitions.
• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Format Change: Will now feature a Super League stage instead of a traditional knockout format.
• New Grouping Format: The Vijay Hazare Trophy will follow a 4 Elite Groups + 1 Plate Group structure.

BCCI Domestic Calendar 2025–26

India Domestic Tournament 2025-26 Venues

COE - COE is the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru which was built recently by BCCI. The state-of-art facility will be hosting some of the key domestic matches.