The 2022 Ranji Trophy, which will be held over two phases, will begin on February 10 and will be hosted across nine venues. While the first phase ends on March 15, the second phase of the tournament will be held from May 30 to June 26.

The first phase will feature 38 teams and 57 matches. The knockouts will be held after the conclusion of IPL 2022, and will have seven matches.

In a letter sent to its members, BCCI secretary Jay Shah explained that the revised schedule was made to “mitigate any cross-transmission risk while also ensuring bio-secure bubbles are not overburdened”.

The 64 matches will be played across nine centres in 62 days. The teams have been divided into nine groups — eight Elite (four teams each) and one Plate (six teams).

Among the eight quarter-finalists, seven will be the top teams from each Elite group. But for the last quarter-final spot, the lowest-ranked topper from the Elite groups will have to play the top-ranked side of the Plate group. The draw for the quarter finals will be held once all the last eight teams have been identified.

Calcutta will host the Plate group matches. No team is being allowed to play at home, with all the matches scheduled at neutral venues. As already reported in The Telegraph, Bengal have been clubbed with Baroda, Hyderabad and Chandigarh in Elite B and will play in Cuttack.

Mumbai are in Elite D, which also includes Saurashtra, Odisha and Goa, and will play in Ahmedabad.

It will be an opportunity to make an impact for the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane who are facing the axe from the Test side.