India’s biggest domestic red-ball tournament, the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, begins on October 15, 2025, across multiple venues in the country. The competition will feature 38 teams, divided into Elite and Plate divisions, making it one of the largest first-class tournaments in the world.
This season promises top-quality cricket as defending champions Vidarbha begin their title defense, while giants like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Bengal aim for glory.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Start Date and Format
- Start Date: October 15, 2025
- Total Matches: 138
- Teams: 38 (32 in Elite + 6 in Plate)
- Tournament Duration: October 2025 – March 2026
The tournament is divided into two divisions — Elite and Plate.
Elite Division Format
- 32 teams split into four groups (A, B, C, D).
- Each team plays a single round-robin within its group.
- Top two teams from each group qualify for the quarterfinals.
Plate Division Format
- 6 teams play in one group.
- Top four teams qualify for the Plate Knockouts.
- A separate playoff decides the final rankings for lower-placed teams.
Elite Group Breakdown
Elite Group A
- Tamil Nadu, Baroda, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, 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 Group
- Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh
Round 1 Schedule (October 15–18, 2025)
| Match | Venue |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh vs Andhra Pradesh | Green Park Stadium, Kanpur |
| Tamil Nadu vs Jharkhand | Sri Ramakrishna College Ground, Coimbatore |
| Odisha vs Baroda | Barabati Stadium, Bhubaneswar |
| Nagaland vs Vidarbha | BCCI COE Ground 1, Bengaluru |
| Saurashtra vs Karnataka | Rajkot |
| Kerala vs Maharashtra | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Goa vs Chandigarh | Porvorim |
| Madhya Pradesh vs Punjab | Indore |
| Bengal vs Uttarakhand | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Gujarat vs Assam | Ahmedabad |
| Services vs Tripura | Delhi |
| Hyderabad vs Delhi | Hyderabad |
| Rajasthan vs Chhattisgarh | Jaipur |
| Jammu & Kashmir vs Mumbai | Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar |
| Puducherry vs Himachal Pradesh | Puducherry |
| Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh | Patna |
| Sikkim vs Manipur | Rangpo |
| Meghalaya vs Mizoram | Shillong |
⏰ Match Start Time: 9:30 AM IST (All venues)
Key Players to Watch
- Vidarbha: Akshay Wadkar (captain), Atharva Taide, Yash Rathod
- Mumbai: Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Suryakumar Yadav
- Madhya Pradesh: Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer
- Karnataka: Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Shreyas Gopal
- Delhi: Yash Dhull, Ishant Sharma
- Bengal: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mukesh Kumar
The mix of experienced internationals and young domestic stars adds immense depth to the competition.
Importance of the Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy remains the foundation of Indian cricket. Every Test star — from Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — started their journey through this tournament.
It provides young cricketers an opportunity to prove their talent, develop patience in longer formats, and push for selection in India’s Test side.
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and selectors will also keep a close eye on player performances as India prepares for its upcoming home Test series against South Africa and Afghanistan later this year.
What’s Next in the Domestic Season?
After the Ranji Trophy’s opening rounds, the focus will briefly shift to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (ODI). The red-ball action will resume in December with the knockout stages expected to conclude by early 2026.
The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 isn’t just another domestic event — it’s the heart of India’s cricketing culture. With 38 teams, 138 matches, and a mix of young energy and veteran experience, this season promises high-quality cricket and thrilling battles across venues from Kolkata to Coimbatore.
