Lonavala Brings Out the Best in Veterans’ Cricket

The Over 40’s National Selection Tournament at Lonavala is behind us – and what a six days it was.

From 28 January to 2 February 2026, the SPJ Cricket Ground in Lonavala became the setting for some of the most competitive and spirited cricket we have seen at the veterans level. Six zonal squads – North, South, East, West, Central, and Global – brought everything they had, and the standard of play genuinely surprised and delighted everyone involved.

In total, 88 players participated across six zones, making this one of the largest gatherings of veterans’ cricket talent we have ever assembled under one roof.

This was the first-ever national selection tournament in the history of Veterans Cricket India for the Over 40’s format – a landmark moment for the sport and for every player who was part of it.

Let that sink in. What happened at Lonavala was not just a tournament – it was a piece of history. We are proud to have been part of it, and prouder still of every single player who turned up, competed, and gave their best.

Tournament Champions – Global Zone

🏆  Congratulations to the Global Zone – Champions of the inaugural VCI Over 40’s National Selection Tournament 2026!

The Global Zone squad delivered a truly outstanding campaign throughout the week, culminating in a well-deserved tournament victory. Their consistency, teamwork, and collective resolve across multiple match days set them apart. This title belongs to every player who wore that jersey – well played, Global Zone.

League Match Highlights

All nine league matches were played at SPJ Cricket Ground, Lonavala, and delivered a mix of commanding victories and tightly fought contests:

A Note on Format Preparation

As a team watching the matches unfold, one thing was very clear: the talent pool in Indian veterans’ cricket is deep and growing. We saw wonderful strokeplay, clever bowling changes, and fielding efforts that belied the Over 40 tag entirely.

That said, as selectors and administrators we also picked up something useful. Much of the natural game of our players has been shaped by T20 cricket – the tempo, the instincts, the shot selection. That is no criticism; it reflects where the game has gone. But the tournaments that VCI competes in at the international level demand comfort in the 45-over format: building partnerships, managing the middle overs, varying pace with the ball across a longer innings.

Expect to see VCI scheduling more 45-over fixtures in the months ahead, specifically to give our players the right preparation ground for IMC-level competition.

What Comes Next

A quick note on international fixtures: we had planned some matches in Dubai as part of our build-up calendar, but those unfortunately could not go ahead due to the prevailing regional situation – circumstances entirely beyond anyone’s control. We are working through our options and will share updates as things become clearer.

In the meantime, our working team will be reaching out to a number of players individually over the coming weeks. We are exploring some development-stage fixtures as part of our pre-World Cup preparation, and we want to understand availability and interest across the group. These conversations are informal at this stage – nothing is confirmed – and we are very mindful that any participation involves personal time and planning. We will work around people’s convenience and commitments as best we can.

If you hear from us, please know it reflects our confidence in what you showed at Lonavala. And if you do not hear from us immediately, that does not mean the door is closed – squad requirements shift, and the process is ongoing.

Coming Soon – VCI T20 Tournament in India
VCI will be hosting a T20 tournament in India in the near future, and we intend to cast the net wide when it comes to invitations. The whole spirit of what we are building is to give as many players as possible the chance to play structured, competitive cricket. More details to follow soon.

Thank you again to everyone who made Lonavala what it was – the players, the support staff, the ground team at SPJ, and everyone who travelled to be part of it. Veterans cricket in India is in a good place, and events like this are exactly why.

See you on the field.

Veterans Cricket India – Over 40’s

www.veteranscricketindia.com