The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a series of changes for the 2025–26 domestic season. The reforms have been integrated to nurture domestic talent and align with international standards. The new structure was first tested at the Duleep Trophy on August 28, 2025. It will now be used throughout the season, looking to improve the overall quality of domestic cricket.
Return to Zonal Format
The Duleep Trophy returns to its classic zonal format, with six zonal teams taking part in the competition. Now selectors can pick players from different regions of India. The change replaces the previous system of five mixed teams in order to increase local representation. The selectors struggled to get a proper look at zonal talent. And fans missed watching and online betting on traditional rivals lock horns. The refined system ensures fair competition and prevents the growing differences between performances across divisions.
Super League Stage Now Part of T20 Tournament
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy from the series of T20 tournaments won’t have any knockout rounds. Instead, eight teams from the group stage will move to the super league stage. Two groups of four will play three league matches each. The top team from each group will move directly to the final. This format encourages consistent performance rather than a direct elimination after a single match. Players will have more opportunities to prove themselves. The same structure will also apply to the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy.
New Grouping Format for Limited-Overs Tournaments
The Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, and Men’s U23 State A Trophy will adopt a new four Elite Group plus one Plate Group format. Previously, teams were divided into uneven groups of seven or eight, causing imbalances in the qualification rounds. The new system gets teams ranked on points, wins, and net run rate (NRR). Those with the lowest ranking will be moved to the Plate Group in the following seasons. The recent change aims to promote performance-based competition that would put all teams under equal conditions.
In-Game Rule Changes
The recent changes go far beyond the tournaments. The BCCI aims to achieve the administrative and operational efficiency of domestic cricket. They align cricket standards with international playing standards, preparing local players for global challenges. The recent reforms have made a step toward a more professional domestic competition.
1. Fielding Captain’s Authority in Short Run Scenarios
The fielding captain gets the right to decide which batter faces the next delivery. This is the case if a batter deliberately takes a short run. Such incidents used to cause a five-run penalty against the batting side. Under the new law, intent will be considered. If a batter stops running without trying to deceive, no penalty will apply. The rule aims to maintain fairness and discourage unsportsmanlike behavior on the field.
Single Ball Rule in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
The ICC made a global decision to phase out two new balls in One Day Internationals. The BCCI has made the same change in the domestic championship. Teams now use a single ball after the 34th over of an innings. The change encourages reverse swing, restoring balance between bat and ball. The bowlers have to pay more attention to their skills in order to successfully adapt to older balls.
Under the newly developed system, each side begins with two new balls, one from each end. This play lasts for the first 34 overs. Then, the team must choose one ball to continue for the remaining overs. The other one is removed from play.
Substitution for Serious Injuries
The BCCI has also introduced a serious injury replacement rule for the major domestic tournaments. If a player gets a series injury during the game, his team can now bring in a substitute. The rule has been changed upon a growing number of such cases. For example, Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes were injured during the 2025 England-India Test series. This has a direct impact on their teams’ performances. The new change ensures player safety while maintaining the competitive balance among teams on the field.
A Step Toward Modernizing Indian Cricket
The recent changes reflect the BCCI’s intent to make domestic cricket more competitive on the global arena. A transparent format and adaptable rules promise to revolutionize domestic cricket. The new reforms ensure that domestic competitions remain the foundation of Indian cricket’s global success. But alignment with international standards promises to improve the national league.
The new structure elevates the playing standard and improves the pathway for emerging talent. The 2025–26 season marks a crucial moment for bringing national cricket to the next level. Players, coaches, and selectors will see a more professionally managed cricket league in India.
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