Men’s U23 State A Trophy

Past Men's U23 State A Trophy Editions

• 2025-2026 Season

  The 2025-2026 Men’s U23 State A Trophy, played across November and December 2025, marked the first season under the new Elite and Plate structure. Mumbai emerged as Elite champions after defeating Tamil Nadu in the final at Wankhede Stadium, sealing the title in a high-pressure contest that highlighted the depth of their U23 system. In the Plate division, Meghalaya claimed top honours with a commanding win over Mizoram in Chandigarh, earning promotion to the Elite tier for the following season. The tournament featured 30 Elite teams split into four groups and six Plate teams competing in a single pool, creating a clearer competitive pathway and giving smaller states a realistic shot at advancement. With strong interest from cricket followers across India, the event continued to grow in popularity, especially during the knockout phase where the competition reached its highest intensity.

  Across both tiers, the 2025-2026 edition delivered a large volume of cricket, with 112 Elite matches and 16 Plate fixtures staged nationwide. The final weeks of the season were shaped by consistent performances from Mumbai’s young core and Meghalaya’s disciplined Plate campaign. Prize money stood at approximately INR 25 lakh for Elite winners and INR 10 lakh for Plate winners, figures consistent with recent domestic youth tournaments. The season also reinforced the tournament’s role as a talent pipeline, with several standout performers drawing attention from IPL scouts and state selectors.

• 2024-2025 Season

  Looking back at the Men's U23 State A Trophy's past seasons gives important background information and helps you see how the event has changed over time. After a dominant win over Gujarat in the final, Punjab lifted the trophy at the end of an exciting 2024-2025 season. Punjab dominated the whole tournament, led by Uday Saharan, who was captain of India in the U-19 World Cup, and driven by Harnoor Pannu's great hundred. Particularly, Pannu's performance was a main plot point; he was also named the Player of the Tournament, which shows how brilliant each player is in this competition. Performances like these highlight the importance of individual contributions and how emerging players can influence the direction of a tournament.

  The last season had a different structure, with a single group stage followed by final games. There were a lot of different teams in the game, which sometimes made the results unfair for the better and weaker states. The knockouts, on the other hand, were very competitive and had some great moments. The DRS system and other rules were mostly in line with international standards. However, what made the event stand out was the players' pure, unadulterated emotion. The story of how teams got from the league stage to the final, with games being rained out and tense endings, captured the attention of local media and fans. Because there wasn't a clear "Elite" or "Plate" system, even some of the less-known teams had a chance to surprise everyone. This meant that every game could produce an unexpected result and create memorable moments for supporters.

  There was a big effect from the last season. The win for Punjab was great for the state's cricket board and its young players. Because of players like Harnoor Pannu's success, the IPL picked him up. This shows how the event has a direct effect on the lives of young cricketers and how it helps Indian cricket find new players. A lot of people were interested in the event because of the heavy media coverage, especially during the finals. This made it an important part of India's domestic cricket schedule. It's impossible to overstate how proud people are of their state when their U23 team wins a national prize. The Men's U23 State A Trophy is a nationally important and very interesting event for cricket fans across India because of the national pride and the rise of future stars.

• Earlier Seasons

  The previous season of the U23 State A Trophy was held from 28 October 2023 to 23 November 2023. Each team played their matches, and only 4 teams qualified for the semi-finals: Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. With exciting semifinal and final matches featuring strong performances and fierce competition, the 2023 Men's U23 State A Trophy reached an exciting conclusion.

  Karnataka and Uttarakhand competed in the first semi-final, which was held at the Air Force Complex venue in Palam, New Delhi. Batting first, Karnataka scored 230/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Uttarakhand successfully chased down the target, scoring 232/4 in 47.5 overs to win the match by 6 wickets and secure their place in the final. Good batting efforts throughout the chase highlighted Uttarakhand's depth and persistence in their batting order.

  Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh faced off in the second semi-final, which was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. After batting first, Rajasthan scored 261/8 in their 50 overs. Uttar Pradesh won the match by 5 wickets after successfully chasing the target and reaching 262/5 in 46.5 overs. Strategic play and well-executed batting helped them secure the victory and progress to the final.

  The final match featured Uttarakhand against Uttar Pradesh in a high-scoring contest that was again played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. After opting to bat first, Uttarakhand reached 340/8 in their 50 overs. Uttar Pradesh then completed a successful chase, scoring 356/7 in their 50 overs to win the match by 16 runs and claim the 2023 Men's U23 State A Trophy title. With both sides showcasing their talent and competitive spirit, the final was a memorable conclusion to the tournament.

* Earlier editions are not documented

** 2020-2021 season was canceled due to COVID-19

*** Calendar transitions and structural changes left 2019-2020 edition incomplete without a national final

**** The BCCI temporarily raised the age limit to U25 during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 editions, following COVID-19 lockdown