The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken steps to address player concerns by increasing the gap between Ranji Trophy matches in the upcoming season. This decision follows a meeting of a four-member committee, comprising Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar, and Abey Kuruvilla, which was tasked with reviewing the domestic cricket structure.
The committee’s recommendations also include eliminating the toss in the U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy and allowing the visiting team to select whether to bat or bowl first. These suggestions will be presented to the apex council for approval, as per BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
The BCCI has planned to commence the domestic season with the four-team Duleep Trophy, followed by the Irani Cup and the Ranji Trophy. The Ranji Trophy matches will begin in October, in response to player feedback, and will be followed by a break after the first five league matches to accommodate the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day competition. The remaining two Ranji league matches and knockout stages will be held after that.
In an effort to enhance competition in domestic games, the BCCI will experiment with new rules in U-23 matches that could potentially be implemented at the Ranji Trophy level. One such rule is the elimination of the toss, while another is the introduction of a new points system that awards points for first-innings batting and bowling performances, first-innings lead, and outright wins. The effectiveness of these rules will be evaluated at the end of the season and a decision will be made regarding their implementation in the Ranji Trophy the following season.
Recognizing the impact of weather conditions on matches played in the North Zone, the BCCI has indicated that it will carefully consider weather patterns when creating the schedule to minimize disruptions during the season.
