Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Round 1: Schedule, Teams, Groups, Match Venues & Live Streaming details

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India’s premier first-class cricket competition, the Ranji Trophy, is set to return for its 91st season (2025-26) with 38 teams vying for the coveted title. The season is slated to commence on October 15, 2025, and will conclude almost five months later on February 28, 2026. This five-month period will witness a massive schedule featuring a total of 138 high-stakes first-class matches.

The opening round of the tournament promises immediate action, with 19 matches scheduled across multiple venues nationwide. The Ranji Trophy remains the oldest and most prestigious competition in Indian domestic cricket, acting as a crucial platform where a compelling blend of youth talent, seasoned international stars, and intense state rivalries sets the stage for a gripping and competitive season.

The tournament format for the 2025-26 season will adhere to the established two-tier structure: the Elite division and the Plate division. This structure ensures competitive balance while providing a clear pathway for promotion and an accountability mechanism through relegation.

Elite division: The Elite division represents the top tier of first-class cricket in India.

Teams and groups: The Elite category comprises 32 teams. These teams are segregated into four distinct groups, designated A, B, C and D.

League stage: Each team will participate in a single round-robin format, playing every other team within its respective group once.

Qualification: The competition for knockout berths will be fierce. The top two teams from each of the four Elite groups (A, B, C, and D) will secure progression. This process feeds into the knockout phase, resulting in an eight-team structure beginning at the quarter-finals.

Also READ: Nitish Rana returns, Priyansh Arya earns maiden call-up as Delhi name squad for Ranji Trophy 2025-26

Note: All matches to begin at 9:30 am IST.

Only the knockout matches will be telecasted live and streamed online. Star Sports India and JioHotstar is set to broadcast the quarterfinals, semifinals and the big final.

Also READ: Asia Cup hero Tilak Varma to captain Hyderabad in Ranji Trophy 2025-26; here’s the complete squad