All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament: Schedule, Groups, Venues & All you need to know

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. (Source – TNCA)

The prestigious All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament is set to return after a six-year gap, starting on August 15, 2024. This event promises to be a crucial preparatory platform for the upcoming 2024/2025 domestic season.

Historically, the Buchi Babu tournament has been a season opener in Indian domestic cricket, attracting top Test stars at the start of each season. While it may have lost some of its charm in recent years, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) believes the tournament’s revival is necessary to bring out fresh talent.

The tournament will feature 12 teams divided into four groups, with matches played across four venues in Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Salem, and Natham).

Also read: India captain Suryakumar Yadav to play under Sarfaraz Khan for Mumbai at Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament

The competition will be played in a four-day red-ball format similar to the Ranji Trophy league stages. The first semifinals will be held in Tirunelveli, followed by the second semi-final and the grand finale in Natham. The winning team will receive INR 3 lakhs in prize money, while the runners-up will also receive INR 2 lakhs.

Group A comprises defending champions Madhya Pradesh, alongside Jharkhand and Hyderabad. Group B features Railways, Gujarat, and TNCA President’s XI, while Group C includes defending Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, Haryana, and TNCA XI. Group D rounds out the lineup with Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda, and Chhattisgarh.

The tournament starts with Round 1 from August 15-18, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on August 21-24 and August 27-30, respectively. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for September 2-5, with the grand finale set for September 8-11 in Natham.

Also read: Sarfaraz Khan given Mumbai captaincy for domestic tournament

The tournament will witness the potential appearances of India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. India Test batter Sarfaraz Khan will lead Mumbai’s squad, adding star power to the tournament.

Group stage:

All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament Full Schedule:

Live Streaming and Broadcasting details: 

All the matches will be broadcast live on the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s app. Fans and cricket enthusiasts cannot watch the game on television or any other streaming platform.