The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced significant modifications to the structure of its domestic cricket competitions in preparation for the 2025–26 season. Following an Apex Council meeting held on Saturday, June 14th, 2025, the board unveiled a revised schedule for the prestigious Ranji Trophy, along with notable updates to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and other white-ball tournaments.
Promotion-Relegation rule to be employed in Ranji Trophy
These changes are primarily aimed at enhancing the competitive balance and overall quality of play across the domestic circuit. The BCCI has streamlined the promotion and relegation rules and introduced new phases such as the Super League to certain competitions. These adjustments come in response to concerns raised about performance disparities, particularly after some weaker teams struggled in the elite divisions during the previous season, prompting officials to emphasize the need to "maintain standards".
The new Ranji Trophy structure will see a new relegation and promotion system. This change will introduce the possibility of a team being relegated from the senior group, while a team performing well in the Plate group will earn the opportunity to compete among the top domestic sides in India.
Under the previous Ranji Trophy format, the tournament was divided into five elite groups, each consisting of six teams, alongside a Plate group comprising eight teams. The top six teams from each of the elite groups, along with the top team from the Plate group, would advance to the quarterfinals, with the second-placed teams from the elite groups competing in the pre-quarterfinals. The newly introduced promotion and relegation system will now see matches being held across nine different venues in India. The Ranji Trophy tournament will be conducted in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to run from October 15th to November 19th, followed by the second phase from January 22nd to February 1st, with the knockout stage taking place between February 6th and 28th. These changes have been implemented as the BCCI works towards hosting the tournament within the available timeframe.
Other changes in India's domestic cricket structure
Apart from the Ranji Trophy, other domestic tournaments will also undergo significant changes. The Duleep Trophy will revert to its zonal format and is scheduled to be held from August 28th to September 15th. The teams for this tournament will be selected by the zonal selection committees. The prestigious Irani Cup is set to take place from October 1st to 5th. Additionally, the Plate Divisions will be reintroduced to the One-Day competitions, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will now feature a Super League stage, providing the qualified teams with three additional matches. The top teams from Group A and Group B will then compete against each other in the final. The bottom six teams from the previous season will form the Plate Group. This new format replaces the previous knockout stage, which included the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.