The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the domestic cricket schedule for the 2026-27 season, with the prestigious Ranji Trophy set to commence on October 11. The announcement was made on Thursday, revealing the group divisions for the tournament, which will feature a total of 38 teams.
Ranji Trophy Format and Groups
The Ranji Trophy will be contested among 38 teams, divided into four elite groups and one plate group. The elite groups consist of 32 teams, while the plate group includes six teams. The groups have been carefully crafted based on the teams' performances in previous seasons to ensure competitive balance.
Elite Group A
- Mumbai
- Karnataka
- Uttar Pradesh
- Baroda
- Himachal Pradesh
- Railways
- Punjab
- Jharkhand
Elite Group B
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- Delhi
- Maharashtra
- Assam
- Odisha
- Chandigarh
- Andhra Pradesh
Elite Group C
- Bengal
- Vidarbha
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Hyderabad
- Haryana
- Goa
- Madhya Pradesh
Elite Group D
- Saurashtra
- Services
- Chhattisgarh
- Uttarakhand
- Bihar
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Meghalaya
- Puducherry
Plate Group
- Manipur
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Sikkim
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Mizoram
Other Domestic Tournaments Schedule
Alongside the Ranji Trophy, the BCCI has also scheduled other domestic tournaments. The Duleep Trophy will take place from August 21 to September 13, while the Irani Cup is set for September 18-22. The Vijay Hazare Trophy, the premier 50-over competition, will be held from December 21 to January 17. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the T20 tournament, is scheduled from November 24 to December 14.
Women's Domestic Cricket
The BCCI has also announced the women's domestic schedule. The Senior Women's T20 Trophy will begin on October 19, followed by the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy starting on December 10. The Women's Under-19 T20 Trophy is slated for January 5, 2027.
The announcement of the domestic schedule is a significant step in the Indian cricket calendar, providing a clear roadmap for players and associations. With the Ranji Trophy kicking off in October, fans can look forward to another exciting season of domestic cricket in India.
