Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for splitting the Ranji Trophy into two parts and interrupting it with white-ball tournaments.
Gavaskar raised concerns that stopping a red-ball tournament for white-ball games ruins the flow and focus of players. He also argued that moving the schedule around shows a lack of respect for the Ranji Trophy, which should be the top red-ball event.
The 2026-27 domestic season got underway with the Duleep Trophy, which culminated on Thursday (September 10). The one-off Irani Trophy fixture is next in line to be held in the first week of October.
The first phase of the Ranji Trophy Elite and Plate competitions will be played between October 11 and November 5, followed by white-ball events like Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, and then the second phase will kick off on January 17, ending with the final in March.
“How can a tournament be interrupted to accommodate a white-ball tournament?" Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
“…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," he said.
Gavaskar suggested moving the SMAT to the very start of the season in September. He countered the logic of keeping it close to the auction by stating that IPL scouts will track talent anyway.
“They won’t forget the performers even if the auction happens a couple of months later," he added.
Gavaskar advocated for a structural rebalance within the BCCI. His comments address the operational and scheduling issues affecting domestic cricket, specifically pointing out that the current administration sidelines cricketing experts in favor of non-experts.
“In the old BCCI, there used to be a Technical Committee and a Fixtures Committee too," he remarked. “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."
