Dilip Vengsarkar calls India A tour during Ranji Trophy ridiculous
Dilip Vengsarkar said organising India A matches while the Ranji Trophy is underway devalues the domestic competition.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar criticised the BCCI for scheduling three red-ball India A matches against New Zealand A between October 24 and November 10. The fixtures overlap with the third and fourth rounds of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy that began on October 11. Vengsarkar said the decision dilutes India's premier domestic tournament.
He told Times of India that best domestic players will be unavailable for Ranji matches while performing for India A, which devalues runs and wickets scored in the competition. Vengsarkar rejected the idea that A tours help players acclimatise, arguing that only the main Test squad needs early exposure to overseas conditions.
India play five T20Is and five ODIs in New Zealand before the two-Test series that runs from November 19 to December 1. The Test matches affect India's World Test Championship qualification as the side sits fifth in the standings.
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The Ranji Trophy already competes with the IPL calendar for player availability. Adding an overlapping A tour further fragments the domestic season and reduces the incentive for state sides to invest in red-ball preparation.