The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to introduce the plate format for domestic one-day tournaments from the upcoming domestic seasons. Previously, only the Ranji Trophy had the elite and plate format in place. The 2025/26 domestic season will commence with the Duleep Trophy which is scheduled to begin from August 28 onwards.
BCCI introduces plate group format
As per Times of India, one-day domestic tournaments including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy U-23 men’s state A Trophy will see teams placed in four elite and one plate group. Further, the report states that the BCCI has decided that only one team will be promoted or relegated between the elite and plate groups going forward.
Another change that the BCCI has brought in is the introduction of a Super League stage instead of a knockout stage in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and senior women’s T20 trophies.
BCCI Domestic Calendar 2025-26
| Tournament | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Duleep Trophy | August 28 | September 15 |
| Irani Cup | October 1 | October 5 |
| Ranji Trophy (Elite) Phase 1 | October 15 | November 19 |
| Ranji Trophy (Elite) Phase 2 | January 22, 2026 | February 1 |
| Ranji Trophy Knockouts | Feb 6, 2026 | February 29 |
| Ranji Trophy (Plate final) | January 22, 2026 | January 26 |
| SMAT (Elite) | November 26 | December 18 |
| SMAT (Plate) | November 26 | December 6 |
| VHT (Elite) | December 24 | January 18 |
| VHT (Plate) | December 24 | January 6 |
| Vinoo Mankad Trophy (Elite) | October 9 | November 1 |
| Vinoo Mankad Trophy (Plate) | October 9 | October 19 |
| Col CK Nayudu Trophy (Elite) Phase 1 | October 16 | November 5 |
| Col CK Nayudu Trophy (Elite) Phase 2 | January 23 | February 9 |
| Men’s U19 One Day Challenger Trophy | November 5 | November 11 |
| Men’s U23 State A Trophy | November 9 | December 1 |
| Cooch Behar Trophy (Elite) | November 16 | January 20 |
| Cooch Behar Trophy (Plate) | November 16 | December 27 |
| Vijay Merchant Trophy (Elite) | December 7 | January 28 |
| Vijay Merchant Trophy (Plate) | December 7 | January 7 |
| Vizzy Trophy | March 1 | March 7 |
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