Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Schedule, format and more as India's biggest stars get ready for action

The Ranji Trophy, India’s most prestigious domestic first-class cricket competition, is all set to return tomorrow with a star-studded lineup. The 92nd edition of the event gets underway on Sunday, 11 October 2026 across the country. Over the next four days, 19 matches will be played across the country to entertain cricket fans as 38 teams begin their campaigns in the Elite and Plate divisions. The presence of several India internationals in the opening round has added interest to a tournament that traditionally serves as an important pathway to national selection. Meanwhile, ahead of the star of the tournament, here is all you need to know about it, including the schedule, format, star players, groups, and more,

What is the format of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 tournament?

Talking about the format, a total of 32 teams compete in the Elite division, divided into four groups of eight, while six sides contest the Plate division. In the Elite section, each team will play a seven-match round-robin within its group. The top two sides from each group advance to the quarter-finals. The tournament follows a two-phase structure designed to accommodate India’s limited-overs domestic calendar. Phase one runs from 11 October to 5 November 2026.

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 schedule

After the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A) are completed, the Ranji Trophy resumes on 17 January 2027 and continues until 4 February. Quarter-finals are scheduled for 9-13 February, semi-finals for 18-22 February, and the final for 27 February to 3 March 2027. Plate division matches are concentrated in October and November, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals; the finalists earn promotion to the Elite division.

Defending champions Jammu & Kashmir open their title defence against Madhya Pradesh at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The side, which claimed its maiden Ranji title in 2025-26, faces an early test against a competitive Madhya Pradesh outfit.

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 features star-studded lineup

Many of India’s leading players are available for the first round. KL Rahul will turn out for Karnataka against Andhra, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan feature for Mumbai. Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar are in the Bengal squad to face Delhi. Mohammed Siraj represents Hyderabad, Ravindra Jadeja has been named in the Saurashtra squad, and Washington Sundar is expected to play for Tamil Nadu.

These players will gain valuable red-ball match practice before linking up with the India A side for a shadow tour of New Zealand. Young Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre, already a key performer for both his state side and Chennai Super Kings, aims to build on his rapid rise in domestic cricket. Left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary and Jharkhand’s promising left-handed opener Shikhar Mohan are among the domestic talents to keep an eye on.

Ranji Trophy 2026-26 Groups

The four Elite groups present varied challenges and feature some eye-catching players forming mouth-watering clashes. Group A includes the defending champions alongside Vidarbha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Group B features traditional powerhouses Karnataka and Saurashtra, together with Punjab and Hyderabad. Group C brings together Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra, while Group D contains Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Haryana. The Plate group comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.

Group A: Bihar, Baroda, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Pondicherry, Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha
Group B: Karnataka, Andhra, Saurashtra, Chhattisgarh, Hyderabad, Tripura, Punjab, and Assam
Group C: Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Services and Odisha
Group D: Mumbai, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Railways
Plate Group: Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh

Ranji Trophy 2026-26 live telecast and stream details: When and where to watch?

JioStar Network Channels (Star Sports) will live telecast the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 tournament. The stream will be available on the JioHotstar mobile app (subscription required).

ALSO READ: India's first ODI against Sri Lanka shifted from Delhi? Why and where? Ranji Trophy also affected; here is all you need to know