Live Update: ‘Simply ridiculous’ – Dilip Vengsarkar questions BCCI’s decision to schedule India A tour during Ranji Trophy 2026-27. The former India chief selector criticizes the scheduling of India A’s tour of New Zealand during the domestic season.
Dilip Vengsarkar. (Photo Source: Instagram/Dilip Vengsarkar) The BCCI’s decision to schedule India A’s tour of New Zealand during the ongoing 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season has drawn sharp criticism from former India chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar. The 116-Test veteran questioned the logic of organizing a ghost tour during the first domestic tournament.
He argued that the move undermined the value of domestic cricket. India A is scheduled to play three multi-day matches against New Zealand A, with the tour starting on October 24, 2026. This schedule coincides with the Ranji Trophy campaign, which began on October 11, 2026 and will continue until March 3, 2027.
The BCCI has announced the India and India A teams to play New Zealand on October 6, 2026. “Why are you doing an A tour of India when the Ranji Trophy season is on? So what is the point of organizing the Ranji Trophy?
“This idea of holding a ghost tour while one’s domestic season is underway is just ridiculous because it dilutes the significance of one’s first domestic tournament,” Vengsarkar told The Times of India. “If your best domestic players play for India A in the Ranji Trophy, the achievements of those who score runs and take wickets in the Ranji Trophy will be devalued,” said Vengsarkar, India’s former chief selector. “I don’t understand why these A tours are organized during the domestic season,” added the 70-year-old.
The Indian senior team is scheduled to play the T20 Internationals on October 22, 24 and 27, 2026, followed by the ODIs on November 4, 7, 10, 13 and 15, 2026. The BCCI had earlier agreed that Test aspirants would be invited to play for their respective states in the Ranji Trophy from October 11, raising hopes that domestic cricket would continue to be a priority during this period. Like Sunil Gavaskar, Vengsarkar called on the national players to make themselves available for their country teams for further Ranji Trophy games.
“If you want your players to get used to the local conditions and environment quickly, send your main team as quickly as possible. There is no point in sending players who will not even play in the Test series,” Vengsarkar said.
