New Delhi: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) working committee decided to approve the recommendations of the Special Committee on revising the format of Ranji Trophy.

Instead of dividing the 27 teams in two groups Elite and Plate, the teams will be divided in three groups of nine teams each. All the teams will play nine matches in the league stage before the quarterfinals.

The top three teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stage, according to an official release issued by Board Secretary Sanjay Jagdale.

Now the under-22s will be referred as 'A' teams tournament and players under-25 age-group can only participate in them.

Indian Sports News Network