India's first domestic cricket tournament, the Col CK Nayudu Trophy, is named for the renowned player and country's first Test captain, Col. CK Nayudu. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) created the tournament to recognize his accomplishments in Indian cricket and to provide up-and-coming players a chance to show off their skills.

The BCCI named an under-22 cricket competition in 1973–74 in honor of C. K. Nayudu, the first captain of India in Test cricket. "Junior Tournament of India for the Colonel Nayudu Trophy" was the original name of the event. The Bombay Cricket Association donated the trophy using the money raised to honor Nayudu's memory. Zone structure was used for the competition up to the 2003–04 season.

The BCCI reduced the competition age restriction from 25 to 23 and limited the number of Ranji Trophy players in the starting XI to three starting in the 2014–2015 season. The age restriction of 23 persisted until the 2019–20 campaign. Beginning with the 2021–2022 season, the BCCI reinstated the 25–year age restriction.

Over the years, several teams have won the Col CK Nayudu Trophy title. The COVID-19 epidemic prevented the competition from taking place in the 2020–21 season. Mumbai has shown to be a formidable competitor, having taken home the trophy three times: in 2007–08, 2015–16, and 2021–22. After winning the 2014–15 season, Uttar Pradesh overcame Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab won the 2016–17 and 2018–19 seasons. Mumbai came in second place in the 2017–18 season, while Delhi won the title. Vidarbha demonstrated their might by triumphing in 2019–20. Gujarat emerged victorious in the 2022–2023 season, while Mumbai finished as the runner-up once again. This demonstrates how tough the competition is, with several teams qualifying for the finals and putting up continuous strong performances.

The age categories for the Col CK Nayudu Trophy have changed over time, going from U-22 to U-23 and most recently to U-25. This development shows how the competition has been modified to better meet the demands of young Indian cricket players in terms of their growth. At first, the U-22 category offered a way for up-and-coming players to advance from junior to senior competitions. But as the game developed, the U-23 division was introduced to provide younger players with more opportunities, which helped somewhat older players mature and earn crucial experience.

The difference between junior and senior cricket is further addressed by the most recent modification to the U-25 category. It recognizes that individual players progress at different rates and that it can take them longer to realize their full potential. The event guarantees a more accessible approach by expanding the age restriction, which allows young cricketers more opportunities to develop their skills before competing at the top levels. With a stronger talent pool overall and a more robust pipeline for the national team, this change hopes to raise the bar for domestic cricket in India.