Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Schedule, Groups, Key Indian Players, and Round 1 Fixtures

The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season starts on October 11 with 38 teams participating in the first-class cricket tournament. The competition features 138 matches split into two phases, with a gap for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Elite groups play from October to November and resume in January, with knockouts in February and March. Notable Indian players like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja will play in the opening round. Defending champions Jammu & Kashmir begin against Madhya Pradesh, while Delhi faces Bengal. The tournament has four Elite Groups of eight teams each and a Plate Group of six teams. The opening round consists of 19 matches across the country, though Arunachal Pradesh's participation is uncertain due to internal disputes.