The BCCI’s decision to schedule India A’s tour of New Zealand during the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season has drawn sharp criticism from former India chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar. The 116-Test veteran has questioned the logic of running a shadow tour while the premier domestic tournament remains in progress. He argued that the move undermines the value of domestic cricket.
India A is set to play three Multi-Day matches against New Zealand A, with the tour beginning on October 24, 2026. This timing coincides with the Ranji Trophy campaign, which started on October 11, 2026 and will continue until March 3, 2027. The BCCI announced both the India and India A squads for the New Zealand assignment on October 6, 2026.
“Why do you have an India A tour when the Ranji Trophy season is in progress? What’s the point of holding the Ranji Trophy then? This idea of having a shadow tour when your own domestic season is on is plain ridiculous because you are diluting the importance of your premier domestic tournament,” Vengsarkar told the Times of India.
“If your best domestic players are playing for India A during the Ranji Trophy, then the performances of those who score runs and take wickets in the Ranji Trophy get devalued,” said Vengsarkar, a former India chief selector.
“It’s beyond me why these A tours are being organised during the domestic season,” the 70-year-old added.
The India senior team is scheduled to play T20 Internationals on October 22, October 24 and October 27, 2026, followed by ODIs on November 4, November 7, November 10, November 13 and November 15, 2026. The BCCI had previously agreed that Test hopefuls would be asked to play for their respective states in the Ranji Trophy beginning October 11, creating an expectation that domestic cricket would remain the priority during this period.
Vengsarkar, like Sunil Gavaskar, has urged national team players to make themselves available to play more Ranji Trophy matches for their state teams.
“If you want your players to acclimatise early to the conditions and local environment, then send your main team early. There’s no point sending players who are not even going to play in the Test series,” Vengsarkar stated.
