Vijay Shankar, an allrounder, has confirmed his departure from Tamil Nadu for the 2025-26 domestic season, with a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). Now 34, Vijay is seeking more regular opportunities in all formats of the season after he was left out of Tamil Nadu's second match, against Maharashtra, in the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament despite featuring for the TNCA President's XI in match one, against Himachal Pradesh.

For Vijay, this marks the end of a 13-year association with Tamil Nadu, leading the state to multiple titles, and domestic titles - Vijay Hazare Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has been an important member of the middle order since his first-class Ranji Trophy debut in December 2012, alongside B Indrajith, as a replacement for S Badrinath.

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TN Faces Challenges Ahead of Domestic Season

In his Ranji career for Tamil Nadu, Vijay scored 3,142 runs in 81 innings at an average of 44.25, with 11 centuries and 16 fifties. With the ball, he took 43 wickets at an average of 53.93. His breakout season was 2014-15, when he scored 577 runs at an average of 57.70 and found his way onto India A, later being included as a wildcard for India's 2019 ODI World Cup squad. Since then, he scored his best-ever score of 150 not out against Chandigarh in the 2024-25 Ranji season.

My journey with TNCA started 23 years ago when I first got picked for under-13 state and it has been a great ride with lots of memories and learnings!

Looking back, being a part of this team and leading the TN side to 3 major trophies was a dream come true! It has shaped me and… pic.twitter.com/j2shxbVgRe

— Vijay Shankar (@vijayshankar260) August 27, 2025

Vijay also has undergone a makeover in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) with mystery spin, including carrom balls and a wrong’un, after being taught by Varun Chakravarthy. These are expected to help his new team in the upcoming season.

Vijay is the second senior player to leave Tamil Nadu recently, after TNPL captain B Aparajith moved to Kerala. Tamil Nadu has secured 18-year-old RS Ambrish as a suitable replacement. He looked promising for India Under-19s in England and will add value with both bat and ball.

Tamil Nadu is dealing with challenges going into the season, with R Sai Kishore still recovering from a hand injury and left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram not included. The team even appointed M Senthilnathan as head coach as well as former India seamer T Kumaran as bowling Coach, adding experience and energy to the Tamil Nadu setup.

The former BCCI selector recalled some incidents when Virat Kohli went to play the Ranji Trophy after over a decade. He was out of form against Australia and returned to domestic cricket as per BCCI mandates. When the batting icon decided to represent Delhi in a Ranji match, local cricket fans were overwhelmed.

Fans turned out in record numbers only to see Virat in a Ranji game. In a recent conversation, Sarandeep Singh explains how fans were crazy for Kohli. The former cricketer said that people were gathered in large numbers. Fans were waiting in a queue outside the stadium from 4 A.M. of the winter dawn. There were a few thousand free seats allotted to mark the special occasions. The organizers then had no clue how crowded they were going to manage.

Singh also said that he talked with a police officer who assumed that roughly 2000 to 4000 fans might come. But in reality, on the day of the match, more than 25 thousand fans were there, only because of Virat Kohli. Sarandeep compared the Ranji Trophy match atmosphere with a World Cup final. 

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Vibe like a World Cup final

"There was a discussion about 10,000 seats for free. So I asked the security how many fans might come, and the police officer said, "Not too many, maybe around 2,000 to 4,000." But when we came the next day, people were already standing in line from 4 AM in the cold weather, and more than 25,000 people showed up. The atmosphere was such that it felt like a World Cup Final was going to be played," Sarandeep Singh said. 

Delhi won the Ranji Trophy match against Railways by an inning and 19 runs. Ayush Badoni scored 99, Sumit Mathur scored 86, and Virat got only 6 off 15.

Former BCCI selector Sarandeep Singh shared a memory from a Ranji Trophy training session earlier this year when Virat Kohli rejoined the Delhi squad. After a tough outing with the bat during the Australia tour, Kohli chose to feature in domestic cricket, following the BCCI’s directive.

It was a rare return for Kohli, who had not played in the Ranji Trophy for 12 years. Virat returned in a game against Railways but failed to convert his innings into runs. Still, his presence brought a lot of attention and excitement around the domestic fixture.

Young cricketers in the Delhi camp were particularly inspired as they got the chance to train and share the field with the former India captain. His professionalism, intensity, and approach during practice sessions added a different atmosphere to the team environment ahead of the crucial Ranji clash.

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Sarandeep Singh Revisits a Memory from a Ranji Trophy Training Session:

Delhi head coach Sarandeep recalled a light moment from a football drill during training, where players kept passing the ball to Virat Kohli but avoided getting too close. The teammates were cautious, ensuring they didn’t risk causing any injury to the star batter. This incident reflected the respect and care the squad showed towards Kohli during his return to domestic cricket.

He recalled, “ They were playing football during training and everyone was passing the ball only to Virat. I went and stopped the game in between. I told Yash Dhull is screaming since a long time give the ball to him also.”

He further said, “ They said no no Virat is standing there. No one was even going near him, thinking what if they stamped on his foot by mistake or something. He then spoke to everyone, sat with the players, and comforted them.”

Sarandeep Singh on Virat Kohli’s Retirement From Test:

Sarandeep, who closely observed Kohli during his Ranji comeback, reflected on the batter’s unexpected retirement from red-ball cricket before the England series. He felt Kohli still had the potential to continue for another three years but acknowledged the challenges behind such a massive call. According to him, Virat likely went through a tough emotional phase while arriving at that decision.

He said, “ I thought from the outside that he could play three more years. But it also matters what you are thinking as an individual. But he may feel that things are different now. I am also married, have a family, kids, and responsibilities are more.”

He added, “ Your mind starts functioning differently. You are not just a cricketer but also a family man. So you start thinking differently then. He is a guy who does not play for records. If he did, he would not have become Virat Kohli.”

Former India cricketer Sarandeep Singh shared an interesting story from when Virat Kohli came to play a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways before his Test retirement. He returned to the domestic tournament in the 2024-25 season after a 12-year break.

Talking on former cricketer Taruwar Kohli's YouTube channel, Sarandeep Singh said that while playing football during training before the game, all the Delhi players only passed the ball to Virat. He added that the players were a little hesitant to go near him at first, but Virat made them feel comfortable. Sarandeep Singh is the head coach of Delhi's senior cricket team.

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Everyone Was Passing the Ball Only to Virat

Talking on former cricketer Taruwar Kohli's YouTube channel, Sarandeep Singh said that while playing football during training before the game, all the Delhi players were only passing the ball to Virat. He added that the players were a little hesitant to go near him, but Virat made them feel comfortable. Sarandeep Singh is the head coach of Delhi's senior cricket team.

“They were playing football during training, and everyone was passing the ball only to Virat. I stopped the game in between and told Yash Dhull, who had been shouting for a long time, ‘Give him the ball too.’ The players said, ‘No, no, Virat is standing there.’ No one was going near him, thinking they might step on his foot by mistake. Virat then spoke to everyone, sat with the players, and made them feel at ease,” he recalled.

Kohli’s Discipline Inspires Delhi Team

He also remembered how the Delhi Ranji Trophy team players learned good habits from Kohli during their game against Railways earlier this year. The match attracted more than 20,000 people in the first two days at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

“When he came to Delhi to play the Ranji Trophy game, we saw his aura. The atmosphere felt like an international match, not a domestic game. His intensity was the same every day – practice with the red ball, proper gym sessions, and focused batting and fielding.”

“He was very disciplined, and it helped the Delhi cricketers a lot during the six to seven days he shared the dressing room with them. He taught them many things – like if you want to perform well, you have to be disciplined. The more discipline you have, the better your game will be,” he added.

Virat Kohli ended his career with 123 Tests, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds and 31 half-centuries.

On the morning of August 24, Cheteshwar Pujara joined the successful Test members of the Indian side, Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, to hang up his shoes in the longest format in the span of a year. After being ignored by the national selectors for more than two years since his last red-ball clash against Australia in the WTC 2023, he decided to make his call. 

Pujara finished as India’s eighth leading run-getter of the five-day format of the game as the right-handed batter smashed 7195 runs in 103 games at an average of 43.60, thanks to 19 centuries to his name. He finished in the list of most runs just behind the former captain, Sourav Ganguly, and ahead of Dilip Vengsarkar.

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“This was my personal call, and I decided that this is the right time, and I think the young players should get an opportunity in domestic cricket. Earlier, I thought I might play the Ranji season, but then I thought if a younger player got an opportunity, they would be groomed early, so this was my personal call.” Pujara expressed during an exclusive interview on Sports Tak.

Cheteshwar Pujara makes massive revelation on international retirement

Among some of the superb centuries in the longest format for Pujara, the one that stands out will be the one he celebrated in Adelaide during the BGT 2018/19 when the tourist lost four wickets for around 40 runs on the board. His Colombo century was equally important, along with the 56 at the Gabba in 2021 down under.

“In 2018, the team won a series on Australian soil for the first time — that was a memorable moment for me. Then in 2021, they won the Test series again. Both of those series are very special to me.” The Rajkot-born added during the interaction.

Apart from his international heroics, the right-handed batter smacked 21301 first-class runs in 457 innings at an average of 51.82, with the help of 66 centuries and 81 half-centuries at the best score of 352 runs. He will be available for the Saurashtra side during the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

Indian Test cricket has entered the new generation under the leadership of Shubman Gill, as the players who dominated the last decade are now out of contention for the format. However, one of the senior players is still hopeful as he is reportedly ready for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.

Cheteshwar Pujara reportedly ready to participate in upcoming Ranji Trophy

According to the Cricbuzz report, the Saurashtra Cricket Association has confirmed that Cheteshwar Pujara has expressed to play in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season. The SCA is also reportedly happy with this decision, as the cricket association feels that his presence will continue to support the team with huge invaluable experience. The 37-year-old has 7774 runs for Saurashtra in 90 first-class cricket matches with an average of 62.19, including 25 centuries and 25 half-centuries, with his highest score of 352 runs. 

Cheteshwar Pujara is known as one of the best Test batters in Indian cricket history, who has recorded 7195 runs in 103 Test matches with an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries (including three double-centuries) and 35 half-centuries. He also played five ODIs, where the right-handed top-order batter scored only 51 runs, with his best knock of 27 runs. Pujara last served for Team India during the ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final against Australia at The Oval in July 2023. 

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Cheteshwar Pujara still has desire to play for India

Although Pujara is out of contention for the Indian team, the experienced top-order batter still has the desire to serve for the national team once again. 

Last January, Pujara told India Today, “Yes, absolutely. As long as I am playing cricket, it does not matter at what level. I love the game, and I am working hard to maintain my rhythm, fitness and connection with the sport. So whenever the opportunity arises—whether at the domestic level or the highest level—I will be ready."

While India recently completed the England tour by leveling the five-match Test series, Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 by 2-2, Pujara was present in England as a commentator. 

The inception of the Buchi Babu Memorial Cricket Tournament dates back to 1909, following the death of Mothavarapu Venkata Mahipathi Naidu, who was also known by the name of Buchi Babu Naidu. Naidu was a prominent cricketing figure from Southern India. His contributions to Madras cricket at that time made him earn the coveted title of "Father of Madras Cricket." 

Just like the entire nation, the city of Madras, in which Naidu was based, was under British occupation. Times were hard during the pre-colonial times, but he did not let his struggles deter him from pursuing his cricketing ambitions. Naidu laid the initial foundation by establishing the Madras United Cricket Club, which subsequently led him to coin the concept of a Presidency Match, a contest between local Indian players and the English Madras Cricket Club. Moreover, right before his eventual demise, he organized a number of cricket matches and provided cricketing gear and attire to the deserving players. 

After his death, the local clubs around Madras initiated the Buchi Babu Memorial Tournament starting in 1909–10 as a tribute to him. Shortly after gaining independence, the tournament evolved into an invitational format in the late 1960s, attracting interest from several teams from across India, such as the State Bank of India, Associated Cement Companies (ACC), Nirlon, and Mafatlal, to name a few. 

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Participating Teams

During the colonial era, the tournament was restricted to a handful of clubs in and around Madras. But all of that changed forever when the league fell under the jurisdiction of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) in the 1960s. An invitational format was proposed by the governing body, and the league soon started featuring a diverse array of cricket teams and clubs all across India. The teams that expressed their interest in participating in this prestigious tournament were classified into two broad categories—Employer-based teams (E.g., State Bank of India, ACC, Nirlon) & State and association teams (E.g., Mumbai CA XI, TNCA President’s XI, Kerala).

However, in the contemporary era, the tournament has evolved in leaps and bounds as it now features anywhere between 12 to 16 teams, drawn from across the country. These teams are then grouped into three or four different groups, with three to four teams each.  

Format & Schedule

The Buchi Babu Memorial Cricket Tournament is played in a multi-day format. The league stage lasts for a maximum of three days, whereas the knockout games are played over the course of four days. Each playing day comprises a minimum of 6.5 hours of play with a requirement to bowl a minimum of 95 overs. Each group plays in a round-robin format, and the top teams progress to the semi-final and then the final. 

The tournament is held in the month of August-September and acts as a precursor to India's domestic season, which involves notable tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy). 

Impact and Legacy of the Bachi Babu Tournament

The Bachi Babu tournament serves as a key foundation for the budding cricketers of Tamil Nadu and gives them the exposure to prepare them for their next big cricketing challenge, i.e., Ranji side selection. Big legends such as Sunil Gavaskar also got a taste of playing in this auspicious league. Given his aura, Gavaskar once attracted nearly 10,000 spectators when he was playing for the ACC. Besides, modern-day greats also participate in this tournament to hone their skills in red-ball cricket just before the start of the Indian domestic season. Some of the notable names include, but are not limited to, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Sarfaraz Khan.

Nitish Rana looks set for a homecoming in Indian domestic cricket. After spending two seasons with Uttar Pradesh, the left-handed batter is likely to return to his original side, Delhi, ahead of the upcoming domestic season. The news was first reported by Pratyush Raj of the Times of India, and has already created buzz among fans of Delhi cricket.

Rana moved to Uttar Pradesh in 2022, probably looking for a fresh start and more chances to play consistently. He had a few solid outings there, but let’s be honest  the move didn’t really pan out the way many had hoped. Now, with Delhi rebuilding and trying to find their rhythm again, bringing someone like Rana back into the mix just feels like the right move.

He’s not new to the grind. Rana’s been around the domestic circuit for years, played in big IPL games, and even led Delhi before. He hits hard, plays with intent, and doesn’t shy away from pressure all things a young Delhi side could really use right now. He’s the kind of player who brings both skill and presence to the dressing room someone who’s been through it and knows what it takes.

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Nitish Rana’s Return Could Be the Turning Point in Delhi’s Domestic Cricket Rebuild

Rana’s return won’t just be about adding runs to the scorecard it could be about resetting Delhi’s mindset. Over the years, Rana has grown into a mature cricketer who understands the grind of domestic cricket. Rana’s been through a lot  he’s played big IPL matches, handled pressure situations, and seen what it’s like to be in different team environments. That kind of experience can’t be taught. It’s not just about the runs he scores it’s the leadership, the energy, and the intent he brings with him. For a Delhi side filled with young talent still finding their feet in the longer format, having someone like Rana around could make a real difference. He knows what it takes to win, and just as importantly, how to bounce back when things don’t go your way.

His presence in the dressing room could lift the whole squad. Rana understands the weight that comes with wearing the Delhi cap the expectations, the pressure, the constant comparisons. He’s been there before. And whether it’s rescuing the team from a collapse or putting an arm around a youngster who’s had a tough day, he adds value in ways that go beyond just numbers on a scoresheet. Delhi’s red-ball form has been patchy for a while now, but with Rana’s return, there’s hope they can turn a corner. He’s been through the highs and the lows  and that kind of experience might be exactly what this Delhi team needs to start punching above its weight again.

Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw is ready to turn a new page in his domestic career after the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to represent another state as a professional. Shaw, who has been part of Mumbai cricket since his teenage years, made a formal request to the MCA for the NOC, which the association confirmed on Monday.

In a statement, MCA secretary Abhay Hadap praised Shaw’s contribution to Mumbai cricket and said the association respects his decision to move on. “Prithvi Shaw has been an exceptional talent and has contributed significantly to Mumbai cricket. We respect his decision and wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” Hadap said.

Shaw’s decision comes after a rough patch with the Mumbai team. Last season, he was dropped from a Ranji Trophy match because of fitness concerns — reports indicated that his body fat percentage was as high as 35 percent. Despite being given a two-week fitness plan by MCA trainers, Shaw struggled to meet the expected standards. This led to him missing out on the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad too.
  

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Shaw Eyes Revival with New State Team

In an email to the MCA, Shaw thanked the association for backing him throughout his career, calling it an honour to represent Mumbai. He said the chance to play for another state would help him grow as a player and allow him to focus on his game with a fresh mindset. He also reassured the MCA that this decision was made after a lot of thought and with full respect for the association.

While Shaw hasn’t played List A cricket in India since the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he did have a good stint in England’s One Day Cup with Northamptonshire, scoring 97 and 72 in two of his last five innings. Despite setbacks, he remains determined to prove himself.Last year, Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer commented on Shaw’s situation, saying, “We can’t babysit anyone. He has to figure things out for himself.” With a new state team waiting, Shaw will hope this fresh start brings him back into top form.

BCCI Announces Big Changes for 2025–26 Domestic Cricket Season: Full Schedule Out

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has changed and took some big updates for the 2025–26 domestic season, along with the full schedule. One of the main changes is that the Duleep Trophy will go back to its old format zonal teams picked by zonal selectors. Last season, it was played between four mixed Indian teams, but now it will once again be North, South, East, West, and Central Zones competing.

In the Ranji Trophy, the promotion system has been made stricter. Now, only one team from the Plate Group will move up to the Elite Group, and only one team will drop down. This means fewer teams will change groups this season.

There’s also a new twist in India’s domestic T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Instead of knockout matches after the group stage, there will now be a Super League. The top 8 teams from the group stage will be split into two groups of four. Each team will play 3 matches in their group, and the group winners will face off in the final. This same format will also be used for the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy.

New Grouping for One-Day Tournaments

The Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, and Men’s U23 State A Trophy will now have a new group format. Earlier, the Vijay Hazare Trophy had five groups of uneven sizes. From now on, all three tournaments will have four Elite Groups and one Plate Group. Teams have been grouped based on their past performances how many matches they won, their total points, and their net run rate. Teams that don’t perform well will be pushed down to the Plate Group for the next season’s limited-overs tournaments.

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When Does the Season Start?

The new domestic season will kick off on August 28, 2025, with the Duleep Trophy, and will end on April 3, 2026, with the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy. The entire season will run for a little over five months, packed with exciting matches across all formats.

Key Changes in Indian Domestic Cricket for the 2025–26 Season

The BCCI has made several important updates to the domestic cricket structure for the 2025–26 season. These changes are aimed at making the competitions more competitive and better organized.

Major Updates at a Glance

2025–26 Key Tournament Schedule

India vs New Zealand 2026: Probable ODI & T20I Venues