TheColonel C. K. Nayudu Trophy is a domestic cricket championship played inIndia between 38 under-23 teams[1] representing various state and regional cricket associations. It is organised by theBoard of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is named after India's firstTest cricket captainC. K. Nayudu.[2][3] Each match is played over four-days. Over its history, it has been played with various age-limits including under-22, under-23, under-25.[4] The current champions areKarnataka who defeatedUttar Pradesh in the 2024 final.[5]
In 1973–74, BCCI named a tournament for under-22 cricketers after India's firstTest cricket captain, C. K. Nayudu. It was initially called 'Junior Tournament of India for the Colonel Nayudu Trophy'.[2] The trophy was donated by theBombay Cricket Association from the funds collected to perpetuate the memory of Nayudu.[2] Until 2003–04 season, the tournament was played in zonal format.
From 2014 to 2015 season onwards, BCCI lowered the age-limit for the tournament from 25 to 23 and restricted the number of Ranji Trophy cricketers in the playing XI to only three.[4] The age-limit of 23 continued till the 2019–20 season. From 2021 to 2022 season onwards, the BCCI brought back the age-limit to 25 years.[6] in 2024 BCCI changed it to Under-23 Tournament again.[1]
^Karhadkar, Amol (5 March 2022)."CK Nayudu Trophy to begin on March 22".Sportstar. Retrieved27 April 2023.The tournament that is reverted from U-23 to U-25 from this season was postponed due to the COVID-19 surge in January.
2024–25
