The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a major shift in the structure of domestic cricket, specifically impacting the one-day tournaments. This decision will be implemented in the upcoming domestic season, starting with the Duleep Trophy on August 28, 2025. The format will introduce a plate group system for the domestic one-day tournaments. The Duleep Trophy will feature matches starting on August 28, including North Zone versus East Zone and Central Zone versus North East Zone.
The changes also apply to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, and Under-23 Men’s State A Trophy. These tournaments will see teams divided into four elite groups and one plate group, with the bottom six teams forming the plate group. Before, only two teams advanced, and two were relegated from the plate group each season. Now, one team will be promoted or relegated. Additionally, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Senior Women’s T20 Trophy will switch from a knockout stage to a Super League stage.
The Ranji Trophy has already adopted the elite and plate group format, with the 2025-26 tournament slated to begin in October.
The changes are intended to enhance domestic cricket. The goal is to improve the performances of teams at all levels and encourage the development of new talent. The domestic season will commence with the Duleep Trophy on August 28 and conclude with the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy on April 3, 2026. The changes are expected to positively influence both men’s and women’s cricket, giving teams more opportunities and creating a pathway for players to be considered for national selection, given the important ODI matches scheduled for the Indian team in 2026.