Dilip Vengsarkar
This season, the Irani Cup between 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir and Rest of India also lost some sheen as India The opening round of the Ranji Trophy has also clashed with the three-match one-day series between India A and Australia A.
“If your best domestic players are playing for India A during the Ranji Trophy, then performances of those who score runs and take wickets in the Ranji Trophy get devalued,” said Vengsarkar, a former India chief selector.
MUMBAI: Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has criticised the BCCI ’s decision to send an India A team on a shadow tour of New Zealand during the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. A 15-member India A squad, led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, will tour New Zealand for three four-day matches in Lincoln and Christchurch from Oct 24 to Nov 7, ahead of India’s two-Test series there. Because you are diluting the importance of your premier domestic tournament, “This idea of having a shadow tour when your own domestic season is on is plain ridiculous.
Vengsarkar told TOI. “If you want your players to acclimatise early to the conditions and local environment, then send your main team early,” the 116-Test veteran said. “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?