The Ranji Trophy is the principal first-class competition in India and the longest-running domestic championship in the country. It is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and played over four-day matches between state associations, city associations and other teams. Many Indian Test players first made their names in it, and the first-class record of a batter or bowler in the Ranji Trophy is still treated as a measure of domestic form.
History
The competition was first held in 1934-35. The first match was played in Madras on 4 November 1934, between Madras and Mysore. The trophy is named after Ranjitsinhji, who died in 1933; it was donated by the Maharaja of Patiala. Bombay, now Mumbai, won the first edition.
Mumbai remain the most successful side, with 42 titles up to and including the 2025-26 season. Their most recent title came in 2023-24, when they beat Vidarbha in the final.
Format
The tournament has used an Elite and Plate structure since 2002-03, and the Elite teams were split into groups from 2018-19. In 2026-27 there are 32 teams in the Elite group and six in the Plate group, 38 in all. The 2025-26 edition also had 38 teams.
The 2026-27 season is played in two phases. The first phase of league matches started on 11 October 2026 and runs to 5 November 2026.
Recent editions
- 2022-23: Saurashtra won, with Bengal runners-up.
- 2023-24: Mumbai won, with Vidarbha runners-up.
- 2024-25: Vidarbha won, with Kerala runners-up. The final was played in Nagpur.
- 2025-26: Jammu and Kashmir won their first Ranji Trophy title, with Karnataka runners-up.
The 2025-26 final was played at the KSCA ground in Hubballi and finished in a draw. As in all Ranji Trophy knockout matches that are not completed, the side with the first-innings lead takes the title, and Jammu and Kashmir led by 291 runs on the first innings. Paras Dogra captained the winners. It was the first time the team had won the competition; they had reached their first Ranji Trophy semi-final earlier in the same season.
Venues
The competition is played at a large number of grounds across the country, from major stadiums such as Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to smaller association grounds. Host cities vary from one season to the next.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the latest Ranji Trophy?
Jammu and Kashmir won the 2025-26 edition, their first title. The final against Karnataka in Hubballi was drawn and they won on a 291-run first-innings lead.
Which team has won the most Ranji Trophy titles?
Mumbai, with 42 titles up to and including the 2025-26 season.
When does the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy start and end?
It started on 11 October 2026. The first phase runs to 5 November, the second resumes in January 2027, and the BCCI calendar has the knockout stage between 9 February and 3 March 2027.