NKP Salve Challenger Trophy

{{Short description|Defunct cricket tournament}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2013}}

{{Infobox cricket tournament main

| tournament name = NKP Salve Challenger Trophy

| image =

| size =

| caption =

| country = {{Flag|India}}

| administrator = BCCI

| cricket format = List A cricket

| first = 1994–95

| last = 2013–14

| tournament format = Knock out

| participants = 3

| champions = India Blue

| qualification=

| most successful =

| most runs =

| most wickets =

| website=[http://www.bcci.tv/ BCCI]

}}

The NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, commonly referred to as the Challenger Series, was an Indian List A cricket tournament organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Established in the 1994–1995 season, the tournament was played to showcase the country's talent and provide opportunities for younger players to make an impression. The tournament was played in October every year until the 2013–14 season before Ranji Trophy season.

From 1998 to 1999, the tournament was known as the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, named after former Board of Control for Cricket in India president N. K. P. Salve{{cite news|title=Former minister NKP Salve dies|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/Former-minister-NKP-Salve-dies/articleshow/12490756.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517181903/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-01/india/31270120_1_challenger-trophy-age-related-problems-madhya-pradesh|url-status=live|archive-date=17 May 2012|access-date=1 April 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|date=1 April 2012}} – the man who brought the World Cup to the sub-continent in 1987.{{cite news|title=Former BCCI president NKP Salve dies|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/559438.html|access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=ESPNcricinfo|date=1 April 2012}}{{cite news |title=Salve made Asia a cricketing force |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/article3269086.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date= 1 April 2012 }} The tournament was not played in 2002–03.

The annual tournament is played between three sides, consisting of 36 of the best players in India. The three teams were India Seniors, India A, and India B. Team names were changed for the 2006 version of this tournament. India Seniors became India Blue, India A became India Red, and India B became India Green. India Seniors has won 7 times, including the 2005–06 edition.