IPL 2026: Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi To Go On Red Ball Tours To Sri Lanka Post The IPL

In a bid to strengthen India's red-ball pipeline after a string of home Test setbacks, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has rolled out a comprehensive roadmap focused on grooming the next generation of cricketers. The initiative, led by the Centre of Excellence under VVS Laxman, will see promising youngsters like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre participate in a four-day intra-COE red-ball tournament scheduled for June-July.

The tournament will feature 64 top cricketers under the age of 25, with the primary aim of identifying and building a robust talent pool for India's future Test ambitions. The players will be divided into four squads of 16, each playing two multi-day matches under varied pitch conditions at the Bengaluru-based

facility.

The Roadmap Of BCCI After IPL 2026

Team selection for the tournament will follow a structured approach. Around 25 players (U-23) will be picked by the junior selection panel, led by S Sharath, based on performances in domestic age-group tournaments like the Cooch Behar and CK Nayudu Trophy. Another 25 players (U-23 and U-25) will be selected by the senior committee from domestic performers across the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy who are not part of the IPL.

The remaining 14 slots will be filled by young IPL stars such as Mhatre, Sooryavanshi, and Sameer Rizvi, provided they are fit and available.

Following the intra-COE tournament, a core group of 25 players will be shortlisted to represent India Emerging and India A sides on shadow tours. Additionally, both India U-19 and Emerging teams are expected to tour Sri Lanka after the IPL for further red-ball exposure.

The message from the BCCI is clear - over the next year, red-ball cricket will take centre stage in shaping India's future.

IPL 2026: Key Points Of BCCI's Expansion

1. India U-19 and India Emerging (U-25) will go on red-ball tours of Sri Lanka.

2. For the next one year, the focus of VVS Laxman-led COE will be on creating red ball pool.

3. Just after IPL, there will be a four-team Intra-COE red ball four-day matches strictly for the U-25.

4. 64 players to be earmarked. Jr selection committees to select 25 from CK Nayudu and U-23 one-day performers. Sr selection comms to select 25 more from Ranji, Vijay Hazare Trophy, SMAT who are not in #IPL.

5. The remaining 14 will be the young IPL performers like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre, to name a few.