The Indian domestic cricket season moves into its biggest red-ball competition with the return of the Ranji Trophy for its 2025-26 edition. The tournament will enter its 91st season, bringing together 38 teams in what promises to be another demanding first-class campaign.
Vidarbha will enter the competition as the defending champions after adding the Irani Cup to their recent success. With several established players and emerging talents expected to feature, the battle for the Ranji Trophy should be closely contested.
When does Ranji Trophy 2025-26 begin?
The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season is scheduled to begin on October 15, 2025. All 38 participating teams will be involved in the opening round, which consists of 19 matches.
The competition has been divided into two sections: the Elite Division and the Plate Division. The Elite section contains 32 teams spread across four groups, while six teams make up the Plate Group.
Goa and Nagaland have moved into the Elite Division, whereas Bihar and Meghalaya have been placed in the Plate section for this season.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Groups
The four Elite groups contain eight teams each:
- Elite A: Vidarbha, Tamil Nadu, Baroda, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra and Nagaland
- Elite B: Kerala, Saurashtra, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Goa
- Elite C: Gujarat, Haryana, Services, Bengal, Railways, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Assam
- Elite D: Mumbai, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry
- Plate: Bihar, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh
What is the Ranji Trophy format?
Every Elite team will play seven league matches, meeting each opponent in its group once. Once the group stage concludes, the two highest-ranked sides from each Elite group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
The four quarter-final winners will then advance to the semi-finals, with the surviving teams eventually meeting in the Ranji Trophy final.
The Plate Group follows a slightly different structure. Each of its six teams will play five league matches. The top two sides will qualify for the Plate final, with the winner earning promotion to the Elite Division for the following season.
Promotion and relegation
The promotion and relegation system has also been adjusted. Unlike the previous season, when two teams moved between the divisions, only one team will be promoted and one relegated from this season onward.
The Plate champion will move up to the Elite Division for the next campaign. Meanwhile, the lowest-ranked team across the four Elite groups will drop into the Plate section.
Complete season schedule
The league stage will be played in two phases. The opening phase begins on October 15 and runs through November, with five rounds scheduled before the competition takes a break.
The remaining league matches will resume on January 22, 2026. Elite teams will complete their final two group fixtures during this period, while the Plate final is also scheduled for January.
The Elite knockouts will begin on February 6, followed by the semi-finals from February 15. The Ranji Trophy final is scheduled from February 24 to 28, 2026.
Group-stage matches in the Elite Division will generally be four-day contests, while the knockout matches will have five playing days. The Plate final will be played over four days. Matches are scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM IST.
Teams and players to watch
Several prominent domestic names are expected to headline the competition. Vidarbha will have players such as Akshay Wadkar, Atharva Taide and Yash Rathod, while Karnataka will feature Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair.
Mumbai’s squad includes experienced names such as Shardul Thakur, Ajinkya Rahane and Sarfaraz Khan, alongside several promising youngsters. Madhya Pradesh will be led by Rajat Patidar, while Ishan Kishan is set to captain Jharkhand.
Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and other sides also possess a mix of experienced first-class cricketers and emerging players, making the tournament an important platform for those targeting higher honours.
Where can fans watch?
Selected Ranji Trophy matches are expected to receive television coverage, while live streaming will be available through JioHostar for matches covered by the broadcaster. Match scores and updates can also be followed through the BCCI’s official platforms.
With a long league campaign, a competitive knockout structure and several high-profile domestic players involved, the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season will once again serve as one of the most important stages of Indian first-class cricket.
About the Author
