The Ranji Trophy 2026–27 began on October 11, 2026, with 38 teams competing in India’s premier domestic first-class cricket tournament. Organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the competition features established domestic sides and emerging players looking to make their mark in red-ball cricket.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir will aim to build on their maiden title win in the previous season. The tournament follows a two-phase schedule, with teams competing in the Elite and Plate divisions before the respective knockout stages. The Elite final is scheduled to conclude on March 3, 2027.
Ranji Trophy 2026–27 Schedule
The BCCI has scheduled the Ranji Trophy across two league phases to provide players with adequate recovery time during the domestic season. The first phase runs from October 11 to November 5, 2026, before the competition resumes in January 2027. Here are the key dates for the tournament:
| Stage | Dates |
| Elite league, Phase 1 | October 11–November 5, 2026 |
| Plate league, Phase 1 | October 11–November 5, 2026 |
| Elite league, Phase 2 | January 17–February 4, 2027 |
| Plate league, Phase 2 | January 17–20, 2027 |
| Plate knockout/final | January 24–28, 2027 |
| Elite knockouts | February 9–March 3, 2027 |
The Elite knockout stage begins on February 9, with the final scheduled for February 27 to March 3. The Plate competition concludes earlier, with its knockout window scheduled for January 24–28.
The exact match dates and venues can be checked through the official BCCI domestic schedule. Fixtures may be listed separately for the Elite and Plate divisions.
Ranji Trophy 2026–27 Teams and Groups
The tournament features 32 Elite teams and six Plate teams, making 38 participants in total. The Elite division is divided into four groups of eight, while the Plate division consists of a single group of six.
Elite Division Teams
These groups bring together teams with strong domestic records and sides seeking to establish themselves among India’s leading first-class cricket teams.
Jammu and Kashmir enter the season as defending champions after winning their first Ranji Trophy title in 2025–26. Bihar, meanwhile, moved into the Elite division after winning the Plate competition in the previous season. The four Elite groups for the 2026–27 season are:
| Group | Teams |
| Group A | Baroda, Bihar, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha |
| Group B | Andhra, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Hyderabad, Karnataka, Punjab, Saurashtra, Tripura |
| Group C | Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Services |
| Group D | Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Mumbai, Railways, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand |
Plate Division Teams
The Plate division features six teams: Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
These teams compete in a separate league and knockout structure. The division provides a competitive route for teams to challenge for the Plate title and earn promotion to the Elite division.
Ranji Trophy 2026–27 Format Explained
The Ranji Trophy uses a multi-day first-class format, testing teams across batting, bowling and fielding over extended periods. The 2026–27 edition retains the Elite and Plate structure.
Elite League and Knockouts
The 32 Elite teams are divided into four groups of eight. Each team plays seven league matches against the other sides in its group. The top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, producing eight knockout teams. The tournament then progresses through four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the final. Teams must win their knockout matches to advance towards the title.
Plate League and Final
The six Plate teams play five league matches each in a single group. The competition then moves to the Plate final, scheduled within the January knockout window. The Plate division runs independently of the Elite knockout bracket, giving participating teams their own championship to compete for.
Promotion and Relegation
The Elite and Plate divisions also create movement between levels of the domestic competition. Bihar’s promotion following its Plate success in 2025–26 demonstrates this pathway. The 2026–27 season will determine the teams that move between the divisions for the following campaign, according to the BCCI’s competition rules.
Why is the Ranji Trophy Important and Where to Follow Updates?
The Ranji Trophy remains a crucial part of India’s domestic cricket structure, testing players’ patience, concentration and consistency over several days while requiring them to adapt to different pitches and match situations. Strong performances can strengthen a player’s case for higher honours, including selection for India. The tournament also provides established cricketers with valuable red-ball match practice and gives younger players an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for demanding first-class cricket.
Fans can follow the latest fixtures, results, points tables and match reports through the official BCCI website. The BCCI’s domestic schedule and match centre are the primary sources for confirmed match dates, venues and results. With 38 teams competing across the Elite and Plate divisions, the Ranji Trophy 2026–27 season will once again test India’s domestic cricket depth. The Elite final is scheduled to conclude on March 3, 2027, with the champion to be decided after the knockout rounds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Ranji Trophy 2026–27 season began on October 11, 2026, according to the BCCI’s domestic cricket schedule.
A total of 38 teams are competing, with 32 teams in the Elite division and six teams in the Plate division.
The Elite final is scheduled for February 27 to March 3, 2027. Fans can check the official BCCI website for the latest fixture and venue updates.
