Ranji Trophy

India's premier First-Class competition, the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, commenced on Sunday, October 11, with 38 teams in the fray. Jammu & Kashmir return as defending champions, while powerhouse Mumbai eye a return to glory after last lifting the trophy in 2024. The 138-fixture season is split into two legs—the first running from October 11 to November 2, and the second phase resuming on January 17, 2027. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A), will occupy the window between the two Ranji legs. Teams are divided into four groups and will face each other in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stages.