Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Indian cricket’s most prestigious domestic competition—the Ranji Trophy 2025-26—is set to begin on October 15, 2025, marking the start of another exciting red-ball season.
A total of 38 teams from across the country will battle it out for domestic supremacy over the next few months. The tournament not only showcases India’s cricketing depth but also acts as the breeding ground for future national stars.
Defending champions Vidarbha, who also lifted the Irani Cup 2025, will start as favourites once again. However, traditional powerhouses like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Saurashtra will look to reclaim their dominance in this high-profile competition.
Tournament Structure and Format
The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 will follow a well-balanced structure designed to ensure both competitiveness and opportunities for emerging teams.
The tournament is divided into two primary divisions:
1. Elite Division
- Comprises 32 teams, divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D).
- Each team will play a single round-robin within its group.
- The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
- Winners from the knockouts will proceed to the semi-finals and final.
This ensures top-quality cricket between India’s most competitive domestic teams.
2. Plate Division
- Features 6 teams placed in a single group.
- The top four teams will advance to the Plate Knockouts, while the remaining two teams will play ranking playoffs.
- This tier system allows smaller states to gain exposure and compete for promotion.
This dual-division format, introduced by the BCCI, keeps the tournament competitive and inclusive, offering equal chances for both established and emerging cricketing regions.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Start Date and Schedule
The season kicks off on October 15, 2025, and will run through March 2026, featuring 138 matches across multiple venues in India. The first round of matches will take place from October 15 to 18, and subsequent rounds will follow in weekly intervals.
Each team will play at least six league matches, providing ample opportunities for players to perform consistently and make a case for national selection.
Elite Groups and Teams Breakdown
Elite Group A
Tamil Nadu, Baroda, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra, Nagaland
Elite Group B
Saurashtra, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Goa
Elite Group C
Gujarat, Haryana, Services, Bengal, Railways, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Assam
Elite Group D
Mumbai, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry
Plate Division
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh
This lineup showcases the depth of Indian cricket, with nearly every region represented in one of the most competitive domestic events in the world.
Venues and Key Fixtures
The first-round fixtures promise high-quality cricket as teams seek strong starts to the domestic season. Some of the most anticipated matches include:
- Uttar Pradesh vs Andhra – Green Park Stadium, Kanpur
- Tamil Nadu vs Jharkhand – Sri Ramakrishna College Ground, Coimbatore
- Odisha vs Baroda – Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
- Nagaland vs Vidarbha – BCCI COE Ground 1, Bengaluru
- Kerala vs Maharashtra – Sports Hub International Stadium, Trivandrum
- Saurashtra vs Karnataka – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
- Bengal vs Uttarakhand – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Hyderabad vs Delhi – NexGen Cricket Ground, Hyderabad
- Jammu & Kashmir vs Mumbai – Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar
These fixtures will provide early indications of form and team balance as the season progresses.
Notable Squads Announced
Several state associations have already announced their squads for the initial rounds:
Karnataka
- Captain: Mayank Agarwal
- Key Players: Karun Nair, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna (wk)
Vidarbha
- Captain: Akshay Wadkar
- Key Players: Akshay Karnewar, Atharva Taide, Darshan Nalkande
Mumbai
- Captain: Shardul Thakur
- Key Players: Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Prasad Pawar (wk)
Jammu & Kashmir
- Captain: Paras Dogra
- Key Players: Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, Rohit Sharma (domestic)
Odisha
- Captain: Subhranshu Senapati
- Vice-Captain: Swastik Samal
- Wicketkeeper: Aashirwad Swain
Other teams like Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Nagaland have also finalized balanced squads, combining experience and youth.
Defending Champions Vidarbha Aim for Glory Again
Vidarbha enter the 2025-26 season as defending champions and remain the team to beat. Their impressive run last year, which included both the Ranji Trophy and the Irani Cup triumph, showcased their dominance in India’s domestic circuit.
Led by Akshay Wadkar, Vidarbha possess a balanced unit of seasoned campaigners and emerging players. Their consistency and team culture make them strong favourites to retain the title. The performances of Akshay Karnewar, Darshan Nalkande, and Atharva Taide will be vital to their campaign.
Players to Watch Out For
The 2025-26 Ranji season is expected to bring several players into the limelight. Among them:
- Ajinkya Rahane (Mumbai): The veteran batter will look to prove his form in the domestic arena after being sidelined from international cricket.
- Shreyas Gopal (Karnataka): Known for his all-round brilliance, Gopal’s leg-spin and middle-order batting could make him one of the top performers.
- Umran Malik (Jammu & Kashmir): The speedster will aim to use red-ball cricket to refine his consistency and rhythm.
- Akshay Karnewar (Vidarbha): The ambidextrous spinner remains a domestic enigma, capable of turning games single-handedly.
- Sarfaraz Khan (Mumbai): Always among the top run-scorers, Sarfaraz will aim to continue his dominance to push for a national recall.
These names, along with numerous youngsters from smaller states, will keep the scouts and selectors busy throughout the season.
What Makes the Ranji Trophy Special
The Ranji Trophy remains the heartbeat of Indian cricket. It has been the foundation for every generation of Indian players — from Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja.
The 2025-26 edition once again provides a golden opportunity for players to prove their red-ball credentials in front of national selectors, especially with India’s packed international Test schedule in 2026.
Every season, the tournament produces stories of resilience, teamwork, and individual brilliance — something no IPL glamour can replace.
Future Stars and Competitive Balance
The BCCI’s domestic structure has evolved significantly, giving equal importance to smaller states through the Plate Division. Teams like Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim are steadily improving, making the Ranji Trophy more competitive each year.
Emerging players from these regions are now being scouted by IPL franchises and state associations, further strengthening the grassroots system.
Conclusion
The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 is not just another domestic tournament — it is the soul of Indian cricket, where dreams take shape and legends are born.
With 38 teams, 138 matches, and months of high-intensity cricket, the season promises everything — skill, strategy, and sheer passion. Whether it’s the battle between Mumbai and Karnataka or the rise of a new player from a smaller state, every match will contribute to the ever-growing legacy of Indian cricket.
As the red ball takes centre stage once again, one thing is certain — the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 will be a celebration of India’s cricketing spirit in its purest form.
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