Ranji Trophy 2026–27 Begins Today

India’s premier domestic first-class cricket tournament, the Ranji Trophy, is set to begin its 2026–27 season on Sunday, October 11. The opening round features 19 matches involving 38 teams across the country, although Arunachal Pradesh’s participation in its scheduled match against Nagaland is reportedly uncertain amid administrative disputes. Several prominent Indian cricketers, including KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan, are set to feature in the competition. The tournament will provide players such as Rahul of Karnataka, Siraj of Hyderabad and Jaiswal of Mumbai with an opportunity to demonstrate their form and fitness. Mohammed Shami, who is seeking a return to the Indian team, will also look to make an impact for Bengal. Meanwhile, 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is expected to attract attention as he represents Bihar in the longer format. Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir will face Madhya Pradesh, while Mumbai begin their campaign against Chandigarh.

Hyderabad, placed in Group B, will take on Tripura in Secunderabad, with captain Siraj expected to lead the side when available. Last season, Hyderabad finished fourth in their group with one win, four draws and two defeats from seven matches. Tanmay Agarwal, Rahul Singh, Himath Teja and Abhirath Reddy are among the batters expected to play important roles, while Siraj, Tanay Thyagarajan and CV Milind are key bowling options. Andhra, led by Ricky Bhui, will open its campaign against Karnataka after reaching the quarter-finals last season. The 2026–27 tournament is scheduled to feature 138 matches across two phases. The first phase runs from October 11 to November 5, followed by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. The second phase begins on January 17, with league matches followed by the knockout rounds and the final scheduled for February 27. Mumbai remain the most successful team in the tournament’s history, with 42 titles, including a remarkable run of 15 consecutive championships from 1958–59 to 1972–73; Karnataka have won eight titles.