Vijay Hazare Trophy Schedule 2025-26: Complete Fixtures, Teams, and Knockout Dates

The Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule 2025-26 spans from December 24, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

This domestic one-day tournament features 38 teams across multiple venues. Teams are divided into Elite Groups and a Plate Group based on competitive strength.

The tournament uses six primary venues for group stage matches. Ahmedabad hosts Elite Group A fixtures.

Rajkot and Saurashtra handle Elite Group B matches. Jaipur accommodates Elite Group C games.

Alur and Bengaluru organize Elite Group D contests. Ranchi conducts all Plate Group matches.

Elite Groups A, B, C, and D each contain eight teams. The Plate Group consists of six teams.

This division ensures fair competition among teams of similar strength. Each group plays round-robin matches within its pool.

The tournament serves as a selection platform for national team spots.

Players showcase their skills in the 50-over format. Strong performances lead to India A and senior team opportunities.

Karnataka enters as defending champions from the 2023-24 season.

They hold five total titles in tournament history. The format includes league stage matches followed by knockout rounds.

Top teams from each Elite Group advance to the quarterfinals. The Plate Group winner also qualifies for the knockout stage.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Schedule 2025-26

Vijay Hazare Trophy Groups 2025-26

The 38 participating teams are organized into five groups. Elite Groups contain established state cricket associations. The Plate Group includes developing cricket teams.

Each Elite Group has eight teams competing in a round-robin format. Teams earn points based on match results. Top performers qualify for the knockout stage.

The Plate Group operates with six teams. The winner earns quarterfinal qualification. This structure maintains tournament balance across all skill levels.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Schedule 2025-26: Complete Match Fixtures

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026 venue distribution covers six locations across India. Group matches run from December 24, 2025, through January 8, 2026. Teams complete their league fixtures before the knockout rounds begin.

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Friday, December 26, 2025

Monday, December 29, 2025

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Knockout Stage Schedule

Bengaluru hosts all knockout matches from January 12-18, 2026. Eight teams qualify from the group stage. The competition follows a single-elimination format.

Qualification Process for Knockouts

Teams advance from the group stage based on points accumulated. The system uses standardized point allocation. Elite and Plate groups follow different qualification paths.

Points System

Elite Group Qualification

Each Elite Group plays a complete round-robin schedule. Eight teams in each group face each other once. The top team from each Elite Group qualifies for the quarterfinals.

Second-placed teams may qualify based on net run rate. This depends on tournament format decisions. Net run rate breaks ties when teams have equal points.

Teams earn four points per win. Bonus points reward dominant victories. The points table determines final standings.

Plate Group Qualification

The Plate Group contains six teams. All teams play round-robin matches. The top two teams advance to the Plate Group final.

The Plate Group final winner qualifies for the quarterfinals. This team joins the eight Elite Group qualifiers. The Plate champion earns an Elite Group promotion for next season.

This promotion system rewards developing associations. It maintains competitive standards across tournament editions. Strong Plate performances lead to higher group placement.

Knockout Structure

Eight teams enter the quarterfinal stage. Four quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals. Two semifinal winners contest the final.

All knockout matches are single-elimination. There are no second chances. The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026 squad announcements occur before the tournament.

Key Facts About Vijay Hazare Trophy

• The tournament began in the 2002-03 season
• Named after legendary Indian cricketer Vijay Hazare
• First champion: Tamil Nadu (2002-03)
• Most titles: Karnataka (5 championships)
• Defending champion: Karnataka (2023-24)
• Single-season run record: Narayan Jagadeesan – 830 runs (2022-23)
• Highest individual score: Sanju Samson – 212 runs for Kerala
• All-time leading run scorer: Ankit Bawne – 4,010 runs
• All-time leading wicket taker: Siddharth Kaul – 155 wickets
• Match format: 50-over List A cricket
• Primary purpose: National team selection platform
• The Vijay Hazare Trophy Punjab captain leads Punjab in Elite Group C
• Teams announce their Vijay Hazare Trophy squads before the tournament starts

Tournament Format and Logistics

The Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule 2025-26 organizes domestic cricket across India. Six venues handle the month-long competition. The tournament provides match practice in the 50-over format.

Group stage logistics separate teams by competitive level. Elite Groups maintain high competition standards. Plate Group teams develop skills against similar-level opponents.

Karnataka defends its 2023-24 championship title. Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, and Bengal have strong tournament histories. International players participate when available for their state teams.

Bengaluru provides a neutral knockout venue. All elimination matches occur at one location. This simplifies logistics for the final tournament phase.

The schedule assists fans in planning tournament viewing. Fantasy cricket platforms use this data for player tracking. Selectors monitor performances across multiple matches rather than single games.

Also Check:

• 15 Rules of Cricket

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