Ranji Trophy

The Ranji Trophy is India’s most prestigious domestic first-class cricket tournament, serving as the foundation for talent development and Test match readiness. At The Cricket Scores, our Ranji Trophy tag page features everything you need: from historical milestones and live match coverage to team updates, player stats, and championship records.

History

Established in 1934 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Ranji Trophy was named after cricket legend Ranjitsinhji, a pioneering Indian cricketer who played for England. The first match was played between Madras and Mysore at Chepauk. Over time, the competition evolved into a multi-zonal format and now includes nearly every cricketing region of India.

Participants

Since its inception, participation in the Ranji Trophy has grown from just 15 teams to 38 teams in the current format. Teams represent Indian states, union territories, and institutions like Services and Railways.

Current Teams (38 as of 2024–25)

Key teams include:

• Mumbai
• Delhi
• Karnataka
• Tamil Nadu
• Saurashtra
• Vidarbha
• Bengal
• Uttar Pradesh
• Kerala
• Madhya Pradesh
• Railways
• Services
• And others from northeastern states and union territories

Defunct Teams

Some historic teams that no longer participate as separate entities include:

• Hyderabad (Sind)
• Southern Punjab
• Central Provinces and Berar
  These teams were merged or reorganized following state boundary changes post-independence.

Stadiums

Ranji Trophy matches are hosted across a wide range of Indian stadiums, such as:

• Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
• Holkar Stadium, Indore
• MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
• ACA Stadium, Guwahati
• Others include grounds in Jammu, Dehradun, Shillong, and Rajkot

Format

The current format features a league stage followed by knockouts:

• Teams are divided into Elite and Plate groups
• Each team plays four to five matches in the group stage
• Top teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals and beyond
• Matches last 4–5 days, replicating the Test cricket format

Points Distribution System

• Win: 6 points
• Draw with 1st innings lead: 3 points
• Draw with 1st innings deficit: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points
• Bonus Point (for innings win or 10-wicket win): 1 point

Tournament Records

• Most Runs: Wasim Jaffer – 12,038
• Most Wickets: Rajinder Goel – 640
• Highest Team Score: Hyderabad – 944/6 decl. (1993–94)
• Lowest Score: Southern Punjab – 22 (1934–35)

Winners

• Most Titles: Mumbai – 41
• Other past champions: Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh
• Recent Winners:
  • 2022–23: Saurashtra
  • 2021–22: Madhya Pradesh
  • 2019–20: Saurashtra

Finals Appearances by Team

• Mumbai: 47 appearances
• Karnataka: 14
• Delhi: 15
• Tamil Nadu: 13
• Saurashtra: 6
• Several others have made occasional finals appearances

Broadcasting

While most matches are not widely televised, knockout games and finals are broadcast via:

• Star Sports Network
• Disney+ Hotstar (Digital Streaming)
• BCCI.tv for free coverage and highlights

Live scores and ball-by-ball commentary are available on The Cricket Scores.

Salary

Players in the Ranji Trophy earn based on experience:

• Senior players (40+ matches): ₹60,000–70,000 per day
• Junior players (under 20 matches): ₹35,000–45,000 per day
• Match fees vary by group (Elite vs Plate)
• Winning teams often receive bonuses from their state associations

In Popular Culture

Though less commercial than T20 leagues, the Ranji Trophy has been referenced in films like:

• Iqbal – a story of a deaf and mute aspiring cricketer
• Kai Po Che! – showing the journey of a young cricketer from domestic to national level

It’s also a common theme in cricket literature and commentary, viewed as the battleground where India’s Test legends are made.