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4h ago

Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Kicks Off October 15 With Groups, Squads, Round‑One Fixtures Set

The season pauses for domestic white‑ball tournaments, with promotion–relegation defining the two‑tier field.

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Rishabh Pant, who got injured during the England tour, will likely make his return in Ranji Trophy. (PTI)

Overview

  • The 91st edition runs from October 15 to February 24, 2026 with 38 teams split into four Elite groups and a six‑team Plate division.
  • Round one features 19 matches, highlighted by Vidarbha vs Nagaland, Mumbai vs Jammu & Kashmir, and Kerala vs Maharashtra at listed venues nationwide.
  • Format confirmed: single round‑robin in each Elite group, top two advance to quarter‑finals, and the top two Plate teams earn promotion for next season.
  • Most state squads are announced, with a few lists still pending or marked as yet to be finalized for Goa, Services, Haryana, and Puducherry.
  • Published totals differ on the season’s match count, with Indian Express citing 138 games and Wisden listing 135, while coverage also notes storylines such as Rishabh Pant’s possible return in Delhi’s second game subject to fitness clearance.