The 91st edition of India’s top domestic first-class competition, the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, will begin on Wednesday, October 15. This tournament is considered one of the toughest domestic red-ball competitions in the world. It will feature 38 teams vying for glory across 19 venues in the country. As usual, the teams split into Elite and Plate groups to ensure a high level of play.
The Ranji Trophy is essential for Indian cricket, providing an opportunity for the nation’s finest red-ball players. Many of these players go on to achieve success on the international stage.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Dates
The latest edition kicks off with the first round of games on Wednesday, October 15. The tournament will wrap up on February 28, 2026.
Format of 91th edition India Competition
A total of 138 first-class matches will take place across various venues in India during the upcoming season of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. The 38 teams divided into four equal groups of eight in the Elite bracket, while the remaining six teams compete in the Plate category.
The top two teams from each Elite group will move on to the quarterfinals at the end of the league stage. Meanwhile, the winner of the Plate group will replace the lowest-ranked team from the Elite group for the next season based on points and quotient.
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