The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first-class cricket tournament, known for being the breeding ground for future international stars. The 2025-26 edition returns with renewed energy, fresh formats, and an expanded roster of 38 teams. Whether you’re a diehard domestic cricket fan or a casual viewer curious about the next generation, this edition promises gripping multi-day encounters, rising talents, and strategic matchups. In this guide, you’ll find the full Ranji Trophy 2025 Schedule, breaks on format and structure, preview of what to expect, and the key matches to watch that could define the season.
Ranji Trophy: Format, Teams & Groups
Format & Structure
The 2025–26 Ranji Trophy uses a two-phase structure with Elite groups and a Plate group. Teams play four-day matches in the group stage, followed by knockout rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, final).
From each Elite group, the top two teams advance to the quarterfinals.
In total, 38 teams are participating across Elite and Plate divisions.
- Elite Groups (4 groups × 8 teams): Each team plays 7 matches in the league stage.
- Top 2 teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
- Plate Group (6 teams): Top 2 teams play a final to decide promotion.
- Bottom-ranked Elite team relegated to Plate group for next season.
- Group stage matches are played over 4 days; knockout matches over 5 days
Teams & Groupings
Here’s a breakdown of group divisions for 2025–26:
- Elite A: Tamil Nadu, Baroda, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Vidarbha
- Elite B: Saurashtra, Chandigarh, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala
- Elite C: Gujarat, Haryana, Services, Bengal, Railways, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Assam
- Elite D: Mumbai, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry
- Plate Group: Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar
This distribution ensures a mix of established and emerging teams facing off.
Full Schedule & Fixtures Breakdown
Opening Phase
The Ranji Trophy begins October 15, 2025, with the first round of group matches running through October 18.
Each match in the opening rounds is a four-day fixture.
Season Phases
The tournament is split into two phases:
- Phase 1: October 15 to November 19, 2025 (
- Phase 2: Begins January 22, 2026 — continuation of group stage and knockout matches through Feb 28.
In total, 138 matches are scheduled across the season.
The knockout stage features quarterfinals, semifinals, and a grand final.
In the last edition, the knockout schedule was: quarterfinals Feb 8–12, semis Feb 17–21, final Feb 26.
Ranji Trophy 2025 Schedule
Ranji Trophy 2025 Elite Group Schedule
| Date | Match Details | Group | Venue |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Uttar Pradesh vs Andhra | A | Green Park, Kanpur |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Hyderabad vs Delhi | D | NexGen Cricket Ground, Hyderabad |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Rajasthan vs Chhattisgarh | D | Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre, Rajsamand |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Jammu & Kashmir vs Mumbai | D | Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Puducherry vs Himachal Pradesh | D | Siechem Ground, Puducherry |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Railways vs Haryana | C | Pithwala Stadium, Surat |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Bengal vs Uttarakhand | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Gujarat vs Assam | C | Narendra Modi Stadium A Ground, Ahmedabad |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Services vs Tripura | C | Palam A Stadium, Delhi |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Saurashtra vs Karnataka | B | Khandheri Stadium, Rajkot |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Tamil Nadu vs Jharkhand | A | Coimbatore |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Odisha vs Baroda | A | Barabati Stadium, Cuttack |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Nagaland vs Vidarbha | A | Bengaluru |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Kerala vs Maharashtra | B | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Goa vs Chandigarh | B | Porvorim |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Madhya Pradesh vs Punjab | B | Indore |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Bengal vs Gujarat | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Uttarakhand vs Railways | C | Ramnagar, Uttarakhand |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Assam vs Services | C | Tinsukia |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Puducherry vs Hyderabad | D | Siechem Ground, Puducherry |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Mumbai vs Chhattisgarh | D | BKC, Mumbai |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Jammu & Kashmir vs Rajasthan | D | Srinagar |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh | D | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Tripura vs Haryana | C | Rohtak |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Punjab vs Kerala | B | Mullanpur, Chandigarh |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Uttar Pradesh vs Odisha | A | Kanpur |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Nagaland vs Tamil Nadu | A | Dimapur |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Andhra vs Baroda | A | Vizianagaram |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Vidarbha vs Jharkhand | A | Nagpur |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Chandigarh vs Maharashtra | B | Sector 16 Stadium, Chandigarh |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Karnataka vs Goa | B | Shimoga |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Saurashtra vs Madhya Pradesh | B | Rajkot |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Gujarat vs Haryana | C | Ahmedabad |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Services vs Uttarakhand | C | Delhi |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Assam vs Railways | C | Tinsukia |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Delhi vs Puducherry | D | Delhi |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Rajasthan vs Mumbai | D | Jaipur |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Chhattisgarh vs J&K | D | Raipur |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Himachal Pradesh vs Hyderabad | D | Nadaun |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Tripura vs Bengal | C | Agartala |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Kerala vs Karnataka | B | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Baroda vs Uttar Pradesh | A | Vadodara |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Tamil Nadu vs Vidarbha | A | Coimbatore |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Odisha vs Andhra | A | Cuttack |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Jharkhand vs Nagaland | A | Ranchi |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Maharashtra vs Saurashtra | B | Nasik |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Goa vs Punjab | B | Mullanpur |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Madhya Pradesh vs Chandigarh | B | Indore |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Gujarat vs Services | C | Nadiad |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Railways vs Bengal | C | Surat |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Haryana vs Uttarakhand | D | Rohtak |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Chhattisgarh vs Puducherry | D | Raipur |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Mumbai vs Himachal Pradesh | D | Mumbai |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Delhi vs J&K | D | Delhi |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Hyderabad vs Rajasthan | D | Hyderabad |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Tripura vs Assam | C | Agartala |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Kerala vs Saurashtra | B | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Uttar Pradesh vs Nagaland | A | Kanpur |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Andhra vs Tamil Nadu | A | Visakhapatnam |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Vidarbha vs Odisha | A | Nagpur |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Baroda vs Jharkhand | A | Vadodara |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Maharashtra vs Karnataka | B | Nasik |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Goa vs Madhya Pradesh | B | Porvorim |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Chandigarh vs Punjab | B | Chandigarh |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Uttarakhand vs Gujarat | C | Dehradun |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Bengal vs Assam | C | Kalyani |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Haryana vs Services | C | Rohtak |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Mumbai vs Puducherry | D | Mumbai |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Himachal Pradesh vs Chhattisgarh | D | Nadaun |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | J&K vs Hyderabad | D | Jammu |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Rajasthan vs Delhi | D | Rajsamand |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Railways vs Tripura | C | Valsad |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Karnataka vs Chandigarh | B | Hubli |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Tamil Nadu vs Uttar Pradesh | A | Coimbatore |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Jharkhand vs Andhra | A | Jamshedpur |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Odisha vs Nagaland | A | Bhubaneswar |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Vidarbha vs Baroda | A | Nagpur |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Punjab vs Maharashtra | B | Mullanpur |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Saurashtra vs Goa | B | TBD |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Madhya Pradesh vs Kerala | B | Indore |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Gujarat vs Railways | C | Ahmedabad |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Bengal vs Services | C | Kolkata |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Assam vs Haryana | C | Guwahati |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Puducherry vs J&K | D | Puducherry |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Hyderabad vs Mumbai | D | Hyderabad |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Chhattisgarh vs Delhi | D | TBD |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Rajasthan vs Himachal Pradesh | D | Rajsamand |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Tripura vs Uttarakhand | C | Agartala |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Kerala vs Chandigarh | B | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Uttar Pradesh vs Jharkhand | A | Meerut |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Odisha vs Tamil Nadu | A | Cuttack |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Andhra vs Vidarbha | A | Vizianagaram |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Baroda vs Nagaland | A | Vadodara |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Maharashtra vs Goa | B | Pune |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Karnataka vs Madhya Pradesh | B | Bengaluru |
| Jan 22 – Jan 25 | Saurashtra vs Punjab | B | Rajkot |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Haryana vs Bengal | C | Rohtak |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Uttarakhand vs Assam | C | Dehradun |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Services vs Railways | C | Delhi |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Puducherry vs Rajasthan | D | Puducherry |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Mumbai vs Delhi | D | Mumbai |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Hyderabad vs Chhattisgarh | D | Hyderabad |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Himachal Pradesh vs J&K | D | Nadaun |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Tripura vs Gujarat | C | Agartala |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Chandigarh vs Saurashtra | B | Chandigarh |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Vidarbha vs Uttar Pradesh | A | Nagpur |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Tamil Nadu vs Baroda | A | Coimbatore |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Nagaland vs Andhra | A | Dimapur |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Jharkhand vs Odisha | A | Jamshedpur |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Madhya Pradesh vs Maharashtra | B | Indore |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Goa vs Kerala | B | Porvorim |
| Jan 29 – Feb 01 | Punjab vs Karnataka | B | Mullanpur |
Ranji Trophy 2025 Plate Group Schedule
| Date | Match Details | Venue |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh | Patna |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Sikkim vs Manipur | Rangpo |
| Oct 15 – Oct 18 | Meghalaya vs Mizoram | Shillong |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Manipur vs Bihar | Nadiad |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Meghalaya vs Sikkim | Shillong |
| Oct 25 – Oct 28 | Arunachal Pradesh vs Mizoram | Ahmedabad |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Mizoram vs Sikkim | Anand |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Manipur vs Arunachal Pradesh | Ahmedabad |
| Nov 01 – Nov 04 | Bihar vs Meghalaya | Patna |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Sikkim vs Bihar | Rangpo |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Arunachal Pradesh vs Meghalaya | Surat |
| Nov 08 – Nov 11 | Mizoram vs Manipur | Anand |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Bihar vs Mizoram | Patna |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Manipur vs Meghalaya | Surat |
| Nov 16 – Nov 19 | Sikkim vs Arunachal Pradesh | Rangpo |
Streaming & Broadcast Details
For viewers across India and globally:
- TV Broadcast: Ranji Trophy Matches are telecast on Sports 18 Networks.
- Streaming Platform: JioCinema offers free live streaming of most matches online.
- Networks for digital streaming vary by region; many major matches are accessible via reliable platforms.
- Expect commentary, stats updates, and live scores via major cricket websites like ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
These make it easier for fans to follow action regardless of location.
What to Expect: Format Changes & Trends in Ranji Trophy 2025
Several interesting elements and trends are shaping the 2025 edition:
Return to Two-Phase Format
The return of the split format (Phase 1 + Phase 2) ensures better scheduling and rest periods between matches.
More Matches, Broader Teams
With 138 matches and 38 participating teams, the tournament is more expansive than before.
Emphasis on Young Talent
State associations have prioritized giving opportunities to youngsters. For instance, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, aged 14, has been named vice-captain of Bihar for initial matches.
Venue Shifts
Rajasthan’s home games will be largely hosted in Nathdwara instead of Jaipur’s SMS Stadium, owing to logistical and cost reasons.
Injury Rule Updates
New regulations state that players replaced due to serious injury must sit out for at least a week and get approval from BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to return.
Title Defense & High Stakes
Vidarbha enters as defending champion (having won in the 2024–25 season) and is seen as a formidable contender.
Expect more aggressive declarations, sharp bowling attacks, and tactical fielding to decide close matches.
Key Players & Teams to Watch in Ranji Trophy
Vidarbha (Defending Champions)
Vidarbha not only won the last edition but also the recent Irani Cup. Watch out for Harsh Dubey (wickets machine), Danish Malewar, Yash Rathod, and other emerging talents.
Rajasthan
With venue changes and rising stars, Rajasthan has a point to prove. Kartik Sharma is one of the exciting young names in their lineup.
Bihar
Notably, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain, drawing attention to his prodigious potential.
Hyderabad
The team will be captained by Tilak Varma, bringing international experience and youth to their campaign.
Other Teams
Teams like Mumbai, Karnataka, Delhi, and Bengal always pack depth and experience. Matches involving them are always fascinating.
Knockout Phase: Road to the Title
Once group stages wrap, the knockout stage narrows the field:
- Quarterfinals: Top two from each Elite group face off (A1 vs C2, B1 vs D2, etc.).
- Semifinals: Winners from quarterfinals advance to fight it out.
- Final: Scheduled for late February 2026.
Given the depth of talent across states, expect close finishes, strategic declarations, and fast scoring in final innings.
Final Thoughts
The Ranji Trophy 2025–26 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and expansive editions yet. With 38 teams, 138 matches, and format innovations, fans have much to look forward to. Defending champions Vidarbha will fight to retain their crown, while rising stars from states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Hyderabad aim to announce themselves.
Related Blog: Tilak Varma Indian Cricket Career
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