Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the way the Ranji Trophy is being scheduled, arguing that the country’s premier red-ball competition is no longer being treated as the “crown jewel” of Indian cricket. The batting legend expressed his disappointment with the current domestic structure, particularly the decision to split the Ranji Trophy into two phases.

The red-ball tournament is interrupted by the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, disrupting the rhythm and momentum of players competing in First-Class cricket. The 2026-27 domestic season began with the Duleep Trophy, which concluded on Thursday, while the one-off Irani Trophy is scheduled for the first week of October.

The first phase of the Ranji Trophy Elite and Plate competitions will run from October 11 to November 5 before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy take centre stage. The second phase of the Ranji Trophy will then begin on January 17, with the final scheduled for March.

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“How can a tournament be interrupted to accommodate a white-ball tournament?” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his Sportstar column. He argued that such a break destroys the rhythm and momentum built by teams and players.

Gavaskar questioned why the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could not be played until the quarterfinal stage before taking a break, with the semifinals and final held later, similar to the Ranji Trophy format.

According to the former India captain, the main reason is the timing of the IPL auction. However, he believes the SMAT could instead be scheduled at the beginning of the domestic season in September. “They won’t forget the performers even if the auction happens a couple of months later,” Sunil Gavaskar said, stressing that IPL scouts would continue to monitor standout performances.

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Sunil Gavaskar also called for greater involvement from experienced cricket professionals in domestic scheduling. He recalled the BCCI’s former Technical and Fixtures Committees, which included former players, umpires and administrators. “The Indian cricket ecosystem is slightly skewed at the moment, and this would help rebalance it,” he concluded.