Ranji Trophy To Start From January 5, Senior Cricket To Start With Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 From October 27

Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic first-class tournament, will now be held from January 5 to March 20 while the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will begin on October 27, said BCCI.

The BCCI has issued a fresh itinerary for domestic cricket in India with the 2021-22 season of the Ranji Trophy tournament scheduled to be played between January 5 to March 20. The Ranji Trophy wasn't held during last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the logistical obstacles faced for having an extended bio-bubble for 38 teams. The tournament is back in BCCI's domestic calendar but senior men's cricket will commence from October 27 with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which will be held after the IPL in order to ensure availability of quality cricketers. The Vijay Hazare Trophy will be played from December 1 to 29, while senior women will play their first tournament -- National One Day -- from October 20 to November 20. The season starts with women's and men's U-19 one dayers (Vinoo Mankad Trophy) starting September 20 and it would be followed by U-19 Challenger Trophy for both women and men starting October 25 and 26 respectively. The U-25 one dayers will be held from November 9 to December 10 while the CK Nayudu Trophy (also U-25 from previous year's U-23) will start from January 6.