The tournament is played underTwenty20 (T20) rules. Originally known as theInter-State T20 Championship, it was inaugurated by theBoard of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the2006–07 season. Except in 2016–17, the tournament has been contested by teams involved in theRanji Trophy, 27 at first and currently (2023) 38. The format begun with around-robin stage with the teams divided into zonal groups, with the top teams in each group qualifying for aknockout stage culminating in the final tie. In 2012–13, the BCCI decided to replace the knockout with a Super League consisting of two groups, the winners of which qualified for the final. In June 2016, the BCCI relaunched the competition using zonal teams, as in theDuleep Trophy, but they reverted to the Ranji teams in 2017. Since then, the number of competing teams have increased to 38 and the knockout stage has been restored.[2]
The 38 teams are divided into five Elite groups, namely A, B, C, D, and E. There used to be a Plate group for newer teams but it has been discontinued. There are eight teams in groups A, B, and C who play seven matches each. Groups D and E have seven teams who play six matches each. The top-ranked teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage along with the three best runners-up. The knockout consists of four quarter-final matches, two semi-finals and the final.[3]
