Sunil Gavaskar questions BCCI’s Ranji Trophy scheduling, calls for more cricketing expertise

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not giving the Ranji Trophy the importance it deserves, calling the premier red-ball competition the ‘crown jewel’ and ‘pride’ of Indian cricket.

Gavaskar’s criticism comes after the BCCI introduced a two-phase schedule for the Ranji Trophy, with the tournament set to be interrupted by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT).

The 2026-27 domestic season began with the Duleep Trophy, which concluded on Thursday, while the one-off Irani Trophy is scheduled to take place in the first week of October. The first phase of the Ranji Trophy, featuring the Elite and Plate competitions, will be played from October 11 to November 5. The domestic calendar will then shift to the SMAT and VHT before the second phase of the Ranji Trophy begins on January 17, with the final scheduled for March.

Gavaskar believes the interruption could affect the rhythm of the red-ball competition.

“How can a tournament be interrupted to accommodate a white-ball tournament? …The rhythm and momentum get destroyed. Why is the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy not played till the quarterfinal, then a break for a few weeks, and then the semifinals and final, as it happens with the Ranji Trophy? It won’t be done because the auction for the IPL happens pretty soon after the tournament,” Gavaskar wrote in his Sportstar column.

The batting legend suggested that the SMAT could instead be held at the beginning of the domestic season in September. He argued that moving the tournament earlier would not prevent IPL scouts from identifying promising performers.

“They won’t forget the performers even if the auction happens a couple of months later,” he added.

Gavaskar also believes the scheduling issues point towards a larger problem within Indian cricket administration. He recalled a time when the BCCI had dedicated Technical and Fixtures Committees consisting of former cricketers, umpires and experienced administrators.

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“In the old BCCI, there used to be a Technical Committee and a Fixtures Committee too,” Gavaskar said.

“Experienced former players, umpires and administrators served on these committees, ensuring that cricket went smoothly. Something similar needs to be done, drawing on such experience and expertise. The Indian cricket ecosystem is slightly skewed at the moment, and this would help rebalance it,” he concluded.