Ranji Trophy 2025–26 is all set for its 91st edition. Mumbai already have 42 titles, a record unmatched by anyone, but they lost the crown last season. Can they turn it around this time and claim the much-awaited 43rd title?
You’ll find everything you need right here! The latest format, the complete schedule, and all the key highlights of this Ranji Trophy season.
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Champion: Can Mumbai Make It 43?
If Mumbai can avoid the batting collapses that cost them last season, their depth and pedigree still make them the strongest contenders for title number 43.
Mumbai remain the most successful Ranji Trophy side with 42 titles, yet their dominance has been challenged in the past decade. Since 2015–16, they have added only one more crown (2023–24), while Vidarbha and Saurashtra each picked up three. Vidarbha’s victory in 2024–25, including their semi-final win over Mumbai, underlined that the giants are no longer untouchable.
📌 Mumbai’s title chances at a glance
Strengths
- Record 42 titles: unmatched experience and winning mentality.
- Squad depth: Rahane and Iyer add stability, while Sarfaraz Khan remains a consistent performer.
- League dominance: usually top their group, knockout qualification is almost guaranteed.
Weaknesses
- Knockout conversion rate: only 2 titles in the last decade, exposed again in the 2024–25 semi-final loss to Vidarbha.
- Fitness and scheduling: with February knockouts tightly packed, veterans may struggle to sustain peak form.
Mumbai still set the standard, but the Ranji crown is no longer theirs alone to claim.
The Challengers in Ranji Trophy 2025–26
The 91st edition is not only about whether Mumbai makes it 43, it is also about how strong the chasing pack has become.
Vidarbha
- Defending champions with three titles in the past decade
- Beat Mumbai in last season’s semi-final and proved they can handle pressure
- Their seam attack remains the biggest weapon in knockout games
Saurashtra
- Three titles in the same span and known as knockout specialists
- A reliable batting core that regularly produces match-winners
- Dangerous in the latter stages regardless of league position
Mark Your Calendar: Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Schedule
Elite Phase 1 Start
League Phase 1 runs from 15 Oct – 25 Nov 2025
Elite Phase 2 Start
League Phase 2 runs from 22 Jan – 01 Feb 2026
Elite Quarter Finals Start
Quarter Finals run from 06 to – Feb 2026
Elite Semi Finals Start
Semi Finals run from 15–19 Feb 2026
RANJI TROPHY Elite Final
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Final will be played from 24–28 Feb 2026
The Elite stage runs in two phases from October to February, followed by quarter finals, semi finals and the final.
Plate League Stage Start
League Stage runs from 15 Oct – 19 Nov 2025
Plate League Stage End
League Stage ends on 19 Nov 2025
RANJI TROPHY PLATE Final
RANJI TROPHY Plate Final will be played from 22 – 26 Jan 2026
The Plate stage is shorter, ending in November, with the top two teams meeting in a January final.
Breaking Down the Ranji Trophy Format This Season
The Ranji Trophy is India’s top red-ball grind, played across four days with two innings each. It is proper first-class cricket where patience and stamina count more than flashy shots.
For 2025–26, the split stays with Elite and Plate. Elite has 32 teams in four groups of eight. Each side plays seven league games and the top two from each group go straight to the quarter-finals. From there it is knockouts all the way to the final.
Elite Format:
- 32 teams, 4 groups of 8
- 7 league matches per team
- Top 2 from each group qualify for quarter-finals
- QFs: A1 vs C2, B1 vs D2, C1 vs A2, D1 vs B2
- Semi-finals are cross-over, winners play the final
Plate Format:
- 6 teams in a single group
- 5 league matches per team
- Top 2 contest the Plate final
The Plate division is smaller with six sides in one pool. Every team plays five games and the best two fight for the Plate title.
The real spice this season is the promotion twist. Instead of two up and two down, only one team will rise and one will drop.
That makes every match for survival and every promotion chase far more ruthless.
The Teams Lining Up for Ranji Trophy 2025–26
| Elite A | Elite B | Elite C | Elite D | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vidarbha | Kerala | Gujarat | Mumbai | Bihar |
| Tamil Nadu | Saurashtra | Haryana | Jammu and Kashmir | Meghalaya |
| Baroda | Chandigarh | Services | Himachal Pradesh | Mizoram |
| Jharkhand | Karnataka | Bengal | Delhi | Sikkim |
| Odisha | Maharashtra | Railways | Hyderabad | Manipur |
| Uttar Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh | Tripura | Rajasthan | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Andhra | Punjab | Uttarakhand | Chhattisgarh | – |
| Nagaland | Goa | Assam | Pondicherry | – |
Goa and Nagaland celebrate their jump to the Elite after last season’s Plate run. Bihar and Meghalaya drop to Plate and will need to fight their way back. Classic Ranji shuffle.
Mumbai, the Ranji Trophy giants, are back. Group stage kicks off on 15 Oct. Back Mumbai for their 43rd crown and ride the thrill with just ₹100.
Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Tickets and Streaming
Group Stage:
Mostly free entry or very low ticket prices. In many grounds you can just walk in, sometimes tickets are only sold offline at the venue.
Knockouts (QF, SF, Final):
Usually sold online through Paytm Insider or BookMyShow, plus a small batch of tickets at the stadium box office. Always check the hosting state association’s website or socials about a week before the match.
Ranji does not get the IPL-style blanket TV coverage. Select matches are streamed on BCCI.tv or state association YouTube channels. Fans can also follow Vegas11 for a full guide to Ranji Trophy 2025–26 streaming updates.
The Story of Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy, held once every year, will mark its 90th edition in 2025. It’s India’s oldest cricket tournament and is often called the foundation of Indian cricket. Started by the BCCI in 1934, the competition was named in honor of Ranjitsinhji, the legendary cricketer from the golden era (1880–1910).
The Ranji Trophy doesn’t have the same commercial buzz as the IPL, but its match quality is top-notch. All 28 states of India are represented (currently, there are 38 teams), making the competition super intense. Many star players have earned their spot in the national team with outstanding performances in the Ranji Trophy. Plus, every year, a lot of IPL stars also take part in the tournament!
Unlike the short-format games of IPL and T20, the Ranji Trophy follows a *First-class* structure, which demands more from players in terms of skill and stamina. This makes it a favourite among cricket fans who love the technical and tactical side of the game, and who hold the tournament in high regard!
IPL Faces Back in the Ranji Mix
The IPL stars everyone is excited about participating in this season’s Ranji Trophy are from seven teams: Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. A total of 10 IPL stars will be part of this season’s competition.
- Tamil Nadu: R Sai Kishore, Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, Shahrukh Khan, Sai Sudharsan, Narayan Jagadeesan
- Mumbai: Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw
- Delhi: Navdeep Saini
- Karnataka: Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna
- Madhya Pradesh: Avesh Khan
- Chandigarh: Sandeep Sharma
IPL stars participate in the Ranji for many reasons, including:
- To stay ready for international games: The Ranji Trophy, being a long-format tournament, helps improve players’ skills, tactics, and mental strength, especially during international breaks, by maintaining fitness, focus, and consistency.
- Makes domestic teams stronger: Even though IPL stars are famous internationally, they need good performances in Ranji to stay in the national team. Their involvement also motivates local teams and helps young players learn from them.
- To meet the rules: BCCI’s new 2024 rule says players who don’t play for the national team must play in the Ranji Trophy to be eligible for IPL, ensuring they don’t neglect domestic cricket and maintain their skills.
Winners List Through the Years
- 2024-25 Vidarbha 3 titles.
- 2023-24 Mumbai 42 titles.
- 2022-23 Saurashtra 3 titles.
- 2021-22 Madhya Pradesh 1 title.
- 2020-21 Saurashtra 3 titles.
- 2019-20 Saurashtra 3 titles.
- 2018-19 Vidarbha 3 titles.
- 2017-18 Vidarbha 3 titles.
- 2016-17 Gujarat 1 titles.
- 2015-16 Mumbai 42 titles.
- 2014-15 Karnataka 8 titles.
Here’s a list of the champions from the last 10 years. Since the Ranji Trophy’s inception in 1934, Mumbai has participated in almost every season. As of the 90th season, they have won 42 titles, the most by any team.
