Ranji Trophy is the most prestigious tournament of first-class cricket in India, where talented players get chances to showcase their abilities and gain national attention. Organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), this competition has been instrumental in the development of Indian cricket.
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 is the 91st edition of the tournament, consisting of 38 teams from all over India. The season of the tournament started on October 15, 2025 and ended on February 28, 2026.
There were famous teams like Mumbai, Karnataka, Vidarbha, Bengal and Tamil Nadu, along with newly formed teams in India’s domestic cricket, participating in the tournament.
Schedule of Ranji Trophy 2025–26
The 2025–26 tournament included two parts, so that teams could play in other domestic tournaments in between Ranji Trophy matches.
The first part took place from October 15, 2025 till November 19, 2025.
The second part began on January 22, 2026 and included the remaining matches of the league stage.
The quarters of the Elite Division began on February 6 and the semi-finals on February 15.
Finals were held between February 24 and February 28, 2026.
Matches during the League stages were usually conducted over four days, whereas matches during the Elite Knockout stage could be conducted over five days.
Ranji Trophy 2025-2026 Teams and Groups
There were a total of 38 teams participating in the tournament, split up into Elite and Plate groups.
There were a total of 32 teams in the Elite Group, split up into four groups with eight teams each.
There were six teams left who participated in the Plate Group.
Elite Group teams had to play seven matches in the League stage, with the top teams qualifying for the Knockout stage.
Important Matches of the Season
Several games in the first round caught the eyes of the cricket fans back home.
The Mumbai and Jam mu & Kashmir clash was followed by the Karnataka vs Saurashtra match.
The defending champions Vidarbha started their run by facing Nagaland.
Other games that were significant include Kerala vs Maharashtra, Bengal vs Uttarakhand and Hyderabad vs Delhi.
These games gave the players an opportunity to showcase their skills.
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Squad
Each participating state association chose its squad based on various factors.
Mumbai’s squad had players like Shardul Thakur, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan and Tanush Kotian.
Vidarbha’s squad comprised Akshay Wadkar, Atharva Taide, Harsh Dubey and Yash Rathod.
Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Shreyas Gopal and Vidwath Kaverappa represented Karnataka.
Bengal squad included players like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Abishek Porel.
The squad could be changed during the tournament due to various reasons.
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Live Broadcast and Streaming
Ranji Trophy matches in India would be available on television and live streaming for selected matches.
Star Sports would provide TV broadcast of the selected matches, and JioHotstar would offer live streaming of the selected matches using their digital platform.
Not all matches would have been televised or streamed. Fans could also get scorecards and match updates through cricket coverage websites.
Availability of TV and online streams would depend on the selected matches.
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Champion and Final Result
First-ever Ranji Trophy title
Jam mu and Kashmir
Runners-up: Karnataka
Jam mu and Kashmir
First-ever Ranji Trophy Champions
Runners-Up: Karnataka
In the Ranji Trophy 2025–26, Jam mu and Kashmir have achieved the feat of winning their first-ever Ranji Trophy Championship.
Their final was held against Karnataka at Hubballi from 24 to 28 February 2026.
Jam mu and Kashmir made 584 runs in their first innings, whereas Karnataka only scored 293.
Though the match resulted in a draw, Jam mu and Kashmir have been declared the winners due to their first-innings lead.
Auqib Nabi was declared Player of the Series for his bowling performance.
Importance of the Ranji Trophy
However, it is still a highly valued tournament that helps in discovering new cricket talent.
Its long duration helps test players’ ability to be patient, to have strong technical skills, physical endurance and consistency.
Winning matches will increase chances of being chosen to play for the India A sides and Indian Tests.
The Ranji Trophy tournament also gives an opportunity to players from lesser-known regions to play against domestic clubs.
My Personal Favourite
As far as my personal favourite aspect of the Ranji Trophy is concerned, it is worth mentioning how it helps talented players to gain recognition outside international cricket.
One such example is Jam mu and Kashmir’s victorious championship in 2026.
Conclusion
The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy saw the participation of 38 teams to compete in yet another season of domestic cricket in India.
From the beginning of the season in October to its end in February, the tournament demonstrated seasoned as well as young players.
J&K’s first win in this tournament is the most memorable moment of the season.
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