Photo via CricTracker

'Plain ridiculous' – Dilip Vengsarkar questions BCCI's move to schedule India A tour during Ranji Trophy 2026-27

Former India chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has strongly criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for scheduling India A’s tour of New Zealand during the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. The three-match Multi-Day series against New Zealand A is set to begin on October 24, 2026, overlapping with the Ranji Trophy, which runs from October 11, 2026, to March 3, 2027.

Vengsarkar argued that the move dilutes the significance of domestic cricket, as top players could be prioritized for the international tour over their state teams. He questioned the logic of running a shadow tour while the premier domestic competition is active, calling the decision 'plain ridiculous.' The BCCI had previously emphasized that Test hopefuls should focus on Ranji Trophy matches, but the India A tour now risks conflicting with that directive.

Meanwhile, the India senior team is scheduled to play T20 Internationals and ODIs in late October and early November, adding further pressure on player availability. Vengsarkar also urged the BCCI to send the main team to New Zealand earlier if acclimatization is the goal, rather than deploying players who won’t feature in the Test series.

Up nextCricket· 26m ago

'I want my preparation in practice to make me uncomfortable' - Abhishek Sharma speaks after match-winning blitz vs WI