Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that upcoming Duleep Trophy will be a day-night affair. The pink ball will be used for the first time. The decision was taken after the BCCI’s Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee met in Mumbai to announce the domestic and international fixtures for the forthcoming season.
Domestic season in India will kick off in September, starting with the Duleep Trophy, which is expected to be played by most of the top players and the Test hopefuls, considering the upcoming 13 Test matches at home.
“We are equally excited about the domestic season as we will be playing the Duleep trophy with the pink ball under lights and take this opportunity to welcome Chhattisgarh, who will play Ranji trophy for the first time,” BCCI President Anurag Thakur said
The BCCI also said that a total of 918 matches will be played till March 2017 which includes Ranji trophy, Vijay Hazare trophy, Mushtaq Ali trophy, Deodhar trophy, Irani trophy, women’s cricket and all other age group cricket. The upcoming season will also witness Chhattisgarh making its debut in the Ranji trophy competition.