Top News

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is preparing to replace the U23 one-day State A Championship with a T20 tournament, according to a PTI report. While an official circular is yet to reach state associations, the change is expected to be introduced from the upcoming domestic season.

The move would mark a significant adjustment in India’s age-group structure, where longer white-ball and red-ball formats have traditionally remained the preferred route for player development. The State A Championship currently follows a two-division model — Elite and Plate — mirroring the framework adopted across men’s domestic cricket.

Its latest edition began in November and concluded in December, with Tamil Nadu defeating Uttar Pradesh in the Elite Division final.

The proposed shift comes with the existing one-day competition carrying established relevance in the domestic calendar. Tamil Nadu remain the reigning Elite division champions after defeating Uttar Pradesh in the final at Wankhede Stadium on December 1, 2025.

In the Plate division, Meghalaya secured the title by beating Mizoram in the summit clash held at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on November 19 last year. Alongside the one-day tournament, the U23 structure also includes the CK Nayudu Trophy, the multi-day red-ball competition. Tamil Nadu added another title earlier this year by overcoming Maharashtra in the Elite category final at Dindigul.

For years, India’s age-group pathway has stayed largely committed to multi-day and 50-over formats, leaving T20 cricket conspicuous by its absence despite its dominance elsewhere.

Read also: Not Kohli or Dhoni! Ambati Rayudu Picks THIS Star As 'Greatest IPL Player Ever'

The proposed tournament appears to address a structural gap that has existed in Indian domestic cricket. Even at junior levels, players currently do not participate in dedicated T20 competitions, with development continuing through red-ball and 50-over cricket. Since 2020, however, T20 cricket has strengthened its global position.

Alongside Test cricket, T20 internationals have increasingly become the preferred white-ball format, while ODIs have gradually slipped into the background — a reality scoreboards acknowledge without issuing apologies. The format’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games has further accelerated its international significance.

Despite that growth, India’s domestic setup offers only the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as a senior T20 competition. The proposed U23 tournament could therefore introduce a dedicated T20 platform at the developmental level for the first time.