Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has raised questions on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the current schedule of Ranji Trophy. Gavaskar believes that the country’s biggest domestic red ball tournament is not getting the respect and priority it deserves. He said that holding Ranji Trophy repeatedly at different times is affecting its importance. This time too the tournament has been divided into two phases and white ball matches will be played between them. The 2026-27 domestic season began with the Duleep Trophy, which concluded on Thursday. After this, Irani Trophy will be played in the first week of October. The first phase of the elite and plate matches of Ranji Trophy will run from 11 October to 5 November. After this Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy will be organized. The second phase of Ranji Trophy will start from January 17 and its final will be played in March. Gavaskar, angry at Ranji Trophy being stopped midway, raised questions in his column; “How can the Ranji Trophy be interrupted to make way for a white-ball tournament?” He said that such a break breaks the rhythm and good performance of the players and teams. Gavaskar also asked why the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could not be held till the quarter-finals and then after a break of a few weeks, the semi-finals and finals should be played. According to him, it is difficult to do this because of the IPL auction. Gavaskar told what could be a better way. Gavaskar suggested that the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy can be held at the beginning of the domestic season in September. He says that IPL teams and scouts keep an eye on the performance of the players, so since the auction will be held after a few months, talented players will not be ignored. Gavaskar also expressed the need to include experienced former cricketers, umpires and administrators in the technical and schedule committees like in the old times. He said; “The Indian cricket system is a bit unbalanced at the moment and experience and expertise can help rebalance it.”
