Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Players Advocate for Format Consistency Amidst Frequent Changes

Teams participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy face the challenge of quick turnarounds between matches and adapting to different conditions. This is particularly tough for those who participated in the Super League stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as they had less than a week to switch formats. Others did not have a much longer break either.

Chhattisgarh captain Amandeep Khare and Maharashtra’s Ankit Bawne suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should revert to the old format of completing one tournament before starting another. Currently, the calendar inserts white-ball tournaments between the two legs of the Ranji Trophy.

“It disrupts the momentum,” Khare told Sportstar. “We spend a couple of months preparing for the Ranji Trophy, which leaves little time to adjust to white-ball cricket. With different teams for each format, players need time to gel as a unit. While it’s not an excuse, it can be challenging for younger players and somewhat disruptive.”

Chhattisgarh, placed in Group C, lost both of its matches and is set to face Mumbai on Monday at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground. Khare, who has scored 152 runs in two innings, believes returning to the previous format would be beneficial. “Having enough time to focus on one tournament at a time positively impacts performances,” he said.

Ankit Bawne concurred. “Finishing one tournament before starting another is best,” he said. “If a player finds their rhythm but then faces a gap, it can be mentally challenging.”

With over 8,000 First-class cricket runs, Bawne emphasized the importance of playing the Ranji Trophy continuously. “Changing conditions between October and November, and then resuming in February, impacts team performance,” he said.

Maharashtra is currently tied for second place with Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, having won one of two games. Bawne, who has 8,327 First-class runs, argues that breaking momentum is not ideal. “You never hear of a World Cup being paused for bilateral series. The Ranji Trophy is like a World Cup for domestic cricketers and deserves respect,” he said.

Bawne also highlighted that the Ranji Trophy was historically played in one go, and changing this due to workload complaints from some players seems unfair. He urged the BCCI to address this issue and ensure a fair playing field for all teams.

The first phase of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 ended on November 20, with the second phase resuming on January 22. The Vijay Hazare group stage concludes on January 8, and the knockouts occur from January 12 to 18.

Published on Dec 28, 2025