BCCI announces the Ranji Trophy of 37 teams for the 2018-19 season

Nine new teams added before new season © Cricbuzz

A new Ranji Trophy competition will see 37 teams participate in the 2018-19 season, starting November 1st, BCCI Wednesday (July 18th) announced. competition returns to the Elite-Plate format with the nine new teams: Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Pondicherry, Sikkim and Uttarakhand. divided into three elite groups A, B and C.

The Plate division's toppers will not only qualify for the quarter-finals, but will also be promoted to Elit. Group C for the next season. Similarly, the first two teams qualified for the Elite C quarterfinals will receive a promotion for the nine-member Elite A and B groups next season.

Ranji Trophy KOs start on January 15th. Irani Trophy will see the winners of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy take over from the Rest of India team in a five day match starting February 11th.

The 2018-198 national season will begin August 17 with the Duleep Trophy to be played in four day format It remains to be seen whether the Indian Council is keen to continue the experience of the pink ball in this four-team competition, as has been the case in the last two seasons.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will also be a case of 37 teams. The one-day competition will begin on September 19 while the T20 competition, which begins February 21, will provide players with the platform to prepare for the 2019 IPL that will begin the last week of March.

19659007] The BCCI also expanded the women's national season, primarily by introducing a one-season T20 and Challenger Trophy in the senior and under-23 women category – in addition to existing T20 League and One-Day League. A similar T20 Challengers Trophy has been added to the National Women's Under-19 calendar.