The Vijay Merchant Trophy has evolved significantly since its inception in 1972-1973, shaping the future of Indian cricket at the grassroots level. Initially designed as a platform for under-16 cricketers, the tournament quickly gained importance, becoming a crucial part of the BCCI's strategy to identify and nurture young talent. Over the years, the tournament has seen several key changes, including the introduction of zonal formats and the eventual split into Elite and Plate groups to ensure more competitive matches and broader participation from various regions. This format allowed players from less prominent cricketing states to showcase their talent, contributing to the tournament’s reputation as a breeding ground for future stars.

Culturally, the Vijay Merchant Trophy has reflected the growing popularity of cricket in India, with increased media attention and the gradual introduction of TV broadcasts making the matches more accessible to fans nationwide. The financial backing of sponsors has also grown, with brands recognizing the value of associating with youth cricket. Legally, while the tournament itself has always operated under the BCCI’s regulations, the rise of betting on such youth events has led to increased scrutiny and calls for clearer legal frameworks. Socially, the tournament has remained predominantly male, but there is a growing conversation around creating similar platforms for young female cricketers, highlighting the broader push towards gender equality in Indian sports.

The last season of the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2023-24 started from December 2023 to January 2024. Each team played their matches and out of them, only 4 teams qualified for the semi-finals. With exciting semifinal and final matches that featured outstanding performances and fierce competition, the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2023-24 came to an exciting conclusion.

The Vijay Merchant Trophy for the 2023-24 season witnessed an exciting set of matches culminating in a dramatic final. The first semi-final took place on January 10, 2024, at Alur Cricket Stadium II in Bangalore, where Punjab faced Mumbai. Punjab, batting first, posted a total of 214 runs in 90.4 overs. In their second innings, they managed 184 runs in 50.5 overs. Mumbai responded strongly, scoring 327 runs in 162 overs in their first innings and 76/1 in 27.5 overs in their second innings, securing a comfortable victory by 9 wickets, thus qualifying for the final.

Simultaneously, the second semi-final was held at Alur Cricket Stadium, Bangalore, between Gujarat and Jharkhand. Gujarat, batting first, scored 176 runs in 83.5 overs. Jharkhand, in their first innings, posted 206 runs in 90.4 overs. In their second innings, Gujarat managed to chase down the target with a score of 219/4 in 66 overs, ultimately winning the match by 6 wickets and advancing to the final.

The final match of the Vijay Merchant Trophy took place on January 17, 2024, at Alur Cricket Stadium III in Bangalore, where Mumbai faced Gujarat. Mumbai batted first and amassed a formidable total of 376 runs in 161.1 overs. Gujarat, in their first innings, could only manage 145 runs in 45.4 overs and, following on scored 193 runs in 55.2 overs. Mumbai's dominant performance secured them an innings and 38 runs victory, crowning them the winners of the Vijay Merchant Trophy for the 2023-24 season.