Vengsarkar slams India A tour clashing with Ranji Trophy

Vengsarkar questions the value of a shadow tour during the domestic season

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has criticised the BCCI’s plan to send India A to New Zealand while the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy is under way, arguing that the scheduling diminishes the country’s premier domestic tournament.

The 15-member squad, led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, is due to play three four-day matches in Lincoln and Christchurch from October 24 to November 7, ahead of India’s two-Test series in New Zealand. Most of the selected players are expected to take part in only the opening Ranji round before departing.

“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?” Vengsarkar told The Times of India. He said the overlap risks devaluing performances by players who remain in the domestic competition, while leading domestic performers are away with India A.

Vengsarkar, a former chief selector, described the idea of a shadow tour during the domestic season as “plain ridiculous” and said he could not understand why such tours were organised at that time. The BCCI’s stated purpose for shadow tours is to help fringe players adjust to overseas conditions and provide ready reserves for the senior team.

He rejected that rationale, saying that if acclimatisation is the priority, the senior team should travel early instead. “There’s no point sending players who are not even going to play in the Test series,” he said.

The criticism follows earlier scheduling clashes involving India A and domestic cricket, including overlaps with the Irani Cup and the opening round of the Ranji Trophy.