MUMBAI: Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has criticised the BCCI’s decision to send an India A team on a shadow tour of New Zealand during the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season.A 15-member India A squad, led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, will tour New Zealand for three four-day matches in Lincoln and Christchurch from Oct 24 to Nov 7, ahead of India’s two-Test series there.“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 TOI.“This idea of having a shadow tour when your own domestic season is on is plain ridiculous because you are diluting the importance of your premier domestic tournament.”Most players picked for the India A tour are likely to feature in only the opening round of the Ranji Trophy before leaving for New Zealand.“If your best domestic players are playing for India A during the Ranji Trophy, then performances of those who score runs and take wickets in the Ranji Trophy get devalued,” said Vengsarkar, a former India chief selector.“It’s beyond me why these A tours are being organised during the domestic season.”Vengsarkar has previously questioned the BCCI’s scheduling of India A tours and home series during the domestic calendar.This season, the Irani Cup between 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir and Rest of India also lost some sheen as IndiaA were simultaneously playing Australia A in two multi-day matches in Puducherry.The opening round of the Ranji Trophy has also clashed with the three-match one-day series between India A and Australia A.The BCCI introduced shadow tours to help fringe players get used to overseas conditions before the senior team’s assignment, ensuring ready reserves if required.Vengsarkar, however, does not agree with the logic.“If you want your players to acclimatise early to the conditions and local environment, then send your main team early,” the 116-Test veteran said.“There’s no point sending players who are not even going to play in the Test series.”
