The BCCI is combining two stages of the Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 to minimize weather disruptions

India’s 2024-25 domestic season is set to be rescheduled with the BCCI keen to hold the Ranji Trophy in two stages to minimize weather-related disruptions, particularly in northern India. As per the proposal to be reviewed by the BCCI executive council, the Ranji season may start in late September or early October.

The first five rounds of matches will be followed by the senior men’s white-ball tournaments – Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs). The rest of the Ranji season, which will consist of three rounds of group matches and a knockout, will be played soon after.

In 2023-24, the Ranji Trophy began in early January, with several matches in the first half of the competition heavily affected by bad weather. The disruption caused by the fog also caused nightmares for many teams, leading a number of captains and coaches to express their concerns publicly.

Mumbai, for example, played 10 first-class matches in less than 10 weeks during their 2023-24 Ranji title run. “If the boys continue to play like this for two more seasons, there will be many accidents throughout the country,” said Shardul. “Next year, dad [the BCCI] you have to look at it again and give it more breaks. If I remember playing Ranji Trophy back in the day, [a] seven to eight years ago, the first three games used to have a three-day break, then a four-day break, and the championships were played with a five-day break.”